254 ^^^ Noblest Friend, The Horse 



prove laxative until the system adapts itself to it — 

 but not afterward. A sod, earth and all, is greatly 

 relished. 



'' Hay tea " is excellent for nourishing and fat- 

 tening a " shy " feeder, or a horse that is wanted 

 to make flesh quickly. It is made by cutting fine 

 sufficient hay, when pressed down firmly, to half fill 

 a bucket ; covering this hay with boiling water, and 

 the bucket with a blanket or two; and leaving 

 the liquid to steep for an hour or so. The resulting 

 fluid has all the strength of the hay, and either alone 

 or mixed with a little molasses or flaxseed jelly, will 

 be greedily taken and prove most nourishing. Noth- 

 ing is better for any animal that is feverish and will 

 not eat ; and these will always drink. 



Occasionally one will come across a horse which, 

 otherwise suitable, has proven almost impossible to 

 keep in good flesh, or one that needs only this addi- 

 tion to round out and symmetrically expand 

 an attenuated frame to develop into an animal 

 as ornamental as useful ; or, still more practi- 

 cally, one may make it a practice to seek for 



