250 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



The frying pan is not always issued. 



For each mess of 5, one marmite, one hidon, and one large gamelle are habitually provided. 



In garrison the cooking and messing is by squadron. 



It may be remarked of the French, as of most other continental rations, that they are insuf- 

 ficient, and ought not to be taken as guides in our own service. 



The prepared Chollet vegetables are extensively used in the field, and would be admirably 

 adapted for issue in our long prairie marches. 



QUARTERS. 



These are sometimes in the same building with the stable, sometimes separate. 



In the new buildings the horse equipments are kept in the quarters, or else in rooms in the 

 stable lofts. 



The quarters will be specially described in the report upon the infantry ; it will be sufiicient 

 to state here that the arrangement and police are by no means such as to render them models to 

 be followed. 



FORAGE. 



There are three kinds of rations : that in time of peace, that on an ordinary march, and that 

 in the field in war. 



The regulation ration in time of war is as follows : 



Hay. Straw. Oats. 



Carabiniers and cuirassiers 15.4 pounds ; 8.8 pounds ; 8.36 pounds. 



Dragoons and lancers 13.2 " 8.8 " 8.36 " 



Chasseurs and hussars 11 " 8.8 " 8.36 " 



Pack horses 15.4 " 8.8 " 8.36 " 



Mules 11 " 8.8 " 8.36 " 



In October, 1855, the ration in the Crimea was: For French horses, 9 pounds hay, 11 pounds 

 barley ; for African horses, 6.05 pounds hay, 10 pounds barley. 



The largest allowance for French horses during the campaign was, 11 pounds hay, 13.2 

 pounds barley. 



The allowance for African horses, given above, was regarded as too small. 



The regulation allowance may be changed as follows : For hay, an equal weight of clover, 

 or double the weight of straw, or half the weight of oats, may be substituted ; for straw, half 

 the weight of hay, or one-fourth of oats, may be substituted ; for oats, double the weight of 

 hay, four times the weight of straw, 50 per cent, additional weight of bran, or 8 per cent, of 

 barley, may be substituted. 



If the horse has no appetite, or the forage is of indifferent quality, the food is sprinkled with 

 salt water. 



When it is necessary to feed the horse upon grass, he should be accustomed to it by degrees, 

 giving but a little at first, and increasing the quantity as he becomes habituated to it. For 

 the first few days, the full or half ration of grain should be issued. 



As a last resort, the following substances may be employed for forage: malt, which fattens 

 but does not strengthen the horse, and which renders them liable to disease when they change 

 it for other food, after having become accustomed to it ; furze, which is very nutritious, but 

 must be crushed with a hammer, or in a mortar, on account of the roughness of its leaves ; the 



