i8o FEEDING. 



canal ; but dry forage which is rich in fibre, such as hay and 

 straw, retard its action. Hence, when horses, presumedly 

 idle ones, are given little or no corn, the remainder or the 

 entire of their ration, as the case may be, should not be ex- 

 clusively composed of hay or of hay and straw, but should 

 consist more or less of green food, which will keep the 

 alimentary canal in good order, and will aid in preventing the 

 accumulation of injurious materials in the system. 



ECONOMY IN THE SELECTION OF FOOD. 



Although oats are the best kind of corn for every class 

 of horse, we may be forced to seek for a substitute from 

 motives of economy. Maize appears to be the only efficient 

 substitute in the case of hard-working horses. Although 

 barley (p. 154) may be given up to 9 or 10 Ib. daily, it is not 

 conducive to health if the quantity be much increased beyond 

 that limit. Mr. W. F. Shaw, F.R.C.V.S., who has had great 

 experience in the feeding of tram and cart horses, tells me 

 that " a few years ago, barley, 50 Ib. to the bushel, could be 

 purchased at I2s. or 135. a quarter; while oats, 38 Ib. 

 a quarter, cost 145. or 15$. Barley was then used to 

 adulterate oats very heavily. In some cases a mixture con- 

 taining a third of barley was sold as oats to small horse- 

 owners. This barley was not even crushed, and yet at that 

 time knackers' yards did not receive more carcases of horses 

 which had died from digestive derangements than at times 

 when oats were cheap. A certain tramway company at that 

 time fed their horses on a daily allowance of 16 Ib. of crushed 

 barley mixed with chop. The mortality was considerably 

 increased ; but even then the company, I am inclined to think, 

 were in pocket, on account of the saving on the corn bill." 

 Mr. Shaw mentions this as an economic fact, but not as an 

 example to be copied. 



The principle upon which commercial horses are at present 



