266 CONFESSIONS OF A HOUSE DEA.LEU. 



horse), which, it is customary for many farmers to breed 

 from ; this is not only unprofitable to themselves, but 

 also unjust to the owners of stallions. Of course, this 

 is most usual where there is a total absence of judg- 

 ment, or a strongly rooted prejudice in the merits of 

 t'ould mare. Quite as much depends upon dam as sire, 

 and unless they are both possessed of a union of good 

 qualities, the farmer need not be disappointed if the 

 produce is an ill-shaped foal. I would strongly recom- 

 mend my agricultural friends to breed from their very 

 best mares, and while they are young and sound, for 

 surely they will admit (however strong their prejudices 

 may be) that, by the unerring laws of nature, "like 

 begets its like." 



The best food, and the most natural for horses, when 

 not in work, is grass. When turned out to a plentiful 

 supply of grass, in idleness, it fattens them, and keeps 

 them in better health than hay and corn would do under 

 similar circumstances ; but I repeat that it is ridiculous 

 for farmers to expect horses to work hard and look well 

 on grass alone. Many disorders arise through feeding 

 horses on bad hay and corn. If the hay given to horses 

 was composed of grasses which they would not refuse 

 to eat in the fields, no harm could accrue, as far as 

 health is concerned, whilst the advantage of stabling 

 them in inclement weather would be added to the cer- 

 tainty of a bellyfull when no grass could be found. But 

 it happens that many grasses of very different qualities 

 compose the dried article which acquires the general 



