BARLEY. 157 



food was otherwise precisely the same, no appreciable differ- 

 ence, so far as weight was concerned, could be detected 

 between the lots after an experiment extending over six 

 months and including severe winter weather. As with the 

 weight, so with the general condition and staying powers of 

 the horses, no recognisable difference could be discovered 

 between the lots. The health likewise of the one lot was 

 equal to that of the other, nor could we perceive any differ- 

 ence in their skins or coats. The sole perceptible difference 

 between the two lots was in the character of the faeces. The 

 faecal pellets from the barley-fed horses were not so uniform 

 in shape nor so firm in consistence as from the oat-fed horses, 

 but no real detriment of any kind could be recognised in con- 

 nection with this, and it was particularly observed that the 

 horses on barley were as free from colic as those on oats. 



" The general conclusion arrived at was that so long as 

 good sound corn is given it is immaterial in feeding cart 

 horses whether barley or oats are the grain used, the chief point 

 being their relative market values. As a result of this con- 

 clusion, and owing to the cheaper relative value of barley, the 

 whole stud of 400 horses were put on barley in place of oats 

 on 1st April, 1895, an d continued to be fed in this way until 

 1st April, 1896, and the general results were nevermore satis- 

 factory than during that time. 



" In feeding my own horse I candidly confess I prefer oats 

 to any other grain, partly because the faeces are less offensive 

 than with any other corn, but while this point may counter- 

 balance the economic one in horses kept for pleasure or per- 

 sonal use, it is not generally allowed, and it should not be 

 allowed, to influence the procedure in connection with a work- 

 ing stud of cart horses, where the preponderating condition is 

 efficiency with economy. 



" Whenever economy makes it expedient to use barley in 

 place of oats, care should be taken to supply clean barley. 



