444 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK in. 



substituted for hay ; but, in every instance, the quality of the food 

 must be in proportion to the required exertions, or the horse will be 

 injured to a degree which the saving effected in his keep will not 

 recompense. Theorists adduce instances to the contrary, but every 

 practical farmer knows that hard work can only be sustained by good 

 feeding. This, however, may be carried to excess ; and, although 

 farmers cannot be generally accused of being too lavish of corn, yet the 

 allowance of hay is often far too profuse. It is, indeed, a common 

 practice to cram the rack with an unlimited quantity of this fodder ; 

 the consequence of which is that gross feeders stand eating half the 

 night instead of lying down to rest. Their stomachs become un- 

 naturally distended, and many serious disorders are generated that 

 might have been avoided by a more regular and a more limited 

 allowance. Nor is this the only loss this system causes the farmer ; 

 quantities of the fodder are pulled down, dropped, trampled under foot, 

 and utterly wasted. The great secret of feeding well is to feed regu- 

 larly at certain hours, and in fixed but sufficient quantities, and not to 

 allow any intermediate eating. A full meal should not be given 

 immediately after a horse has come in from a hard day's work ; let 

 him have a little food to take off the edge of his appetite, and the 

 remainder an hour or two afterwards when he is rested. 



Of the succulent foods, sliced potatoes and carrots are those most 

 commonly given ; and it is a singular fact that, although the former 

 contain the greater proportion of nutritive matter, horses thrive better 

 on the latter. When potatoes are steamed, and thus deprived of the 

 water of which they are in a great measure composed, and which has 

 been supposed to have a pernicious effect, they form a tolerably 

 substantial food ; but the trouble and expense of the process are 

 great objections to giving the tubers in that way, and, when raw, 

 carrots are preferable. Horses are fonder of them ; they have a 

 visibly good effect upon the coat ; they are found advantageous to the 

 wind ; and they correct the binding effect of dry food. But too many 

 given raw are apt to produce evils of other kinds, and horses which 

 have been fed on them for a short time often become so fond of them 

 as to refuse other food. 



In some parts of the North, the refuse oats, or any other refuse 

 grain, or pulse, are mixed with wheat-chaff or cut hay, 1 and boiled ; 



1 As showing the inadequacy of oats and hay alone to maintain the condition of horses 

 undergoing severe labour, Mr. Charles Hunting presented to the Newcastle Farmers' Club 

 the following illustrative case. He was called to a Durham colliery where the output had 

 undergone a decrease of some fifteen or twenty score per day on account of the horses being 

 unable, from want of condition, to get the work out. The animals were miserably poor, 

 notwithstanding their allowance of 168 Ib. of oats and 154 Ib. of hay per head per week. 

 The oats were not crushed, and the hay was not chopped. The horses were large, none 

 under 16 hands, many 16'2. They worked very long hours, and took heavy loads. On 

 September 1st their food was changed to the following : 



s. d. 



Crushed peas 35 Ib. @ 34s. per quarter ... 24 



,, barley 20 Ib. @ 28s. ,, 



oats 40 Ib. @ 28s. ,, 



Bran . . 14 Ib. @ l\d. per stone 

 Hay . . 7 st. @ 9d. 



1 3 



3 4 



7J 



5 3 



Total . . . 12 94 



