BEANS AND PEAS. 163 



of a solution of gum, and serves to form an emulsion with the 

 oil which is in the seeds. 



Indian Linseed sometimes contains a comparatively large 

 proportion of mustard seed, which is small, round, light yellow 

 in colour, and has a characteristically warm taste when chewed. 

 It should be carefully separated from the linseed ; because, if 

 consumed by a horse, it may have an irritating effect on his 

 digestive and urinary organs. We may also find hempseed and 

 rape in linseed. The former is an oval and somewhat flattened 

 seed, about half the size of a grain of wheat, and is of a light 

 brown colour. The latter is a dark seed of about the same size 

 and shape as mustard seed. The consumption to a moderate 

 extent of rape and hemp seed causes no ill effect on horses. 



From 2 to 4 Ib. of linseed cake makes a good addition to 

 the food of young horses, or those which are out of condition. 



BEANS AND PEAS. 



Miintz has shown by exact experiments that beans are very 

 digestible, even when given in daily quantities of 14 Ib. Such 

 a conclusion, though chemically correct, may be practically 

 misleading ; because the consumption of so much nitrogenous 

 matter as that contained in a stone of beans, would certainly 

 be injurious to the animal's health (p. 125). Experience 

 teaches us that oats contain a sufficiently high percentage of 

 nitrogen. Therefore, taking 1 8 Ib. of oats as an ample daily 

 ration for all ordinary requirements of a horse ; we find that 

 the nitrogenous matter in it is about equal to that in 7^1b. of 

 beans, which may consequently be regarded as a maximum 

 daily allowance. As beans are comparatively poor in starch 

 and other carbo-hydrates ; 7^ Ib. of it would be insufficient for 

 purposes of work. We may consequently conclude that beans 

 are useful only as an adjunct to grain rich in starch, as for 

 instance, maize. It is probably advisable not to give more 

 than 5 Ib. of beans a day to horses. A slightly larger quantity 



II* 



