3o6 Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



animals, or by their lying upon it ; nor does he 

 fancy many of the apparently attractive forms of 

 herbage which will be noticed growing in profusion, 

 possibly, while all else is gnawed clean, and yet the 

 animals are manifestly shrinking in flesh. We might, 

 if we would, gain valuable information as to the 

 values of certain grasses by investigation along the 

 lines of equine and bovine preferences as evidenced 

 by the state of their pastures. 



The horse has a small stomach, and must fill it 

 frequently with a reasonable amount of easily 

 digested food if he is to do well. The scanty feed- 

 ing-ground which keeps him perpetually on the 

 move to find sustenance, and obliges him to wander 

 over extensive areas for that purpose, can but prove 

 prejudicial to his condition. He makes a " close 

 bite," and prefers the short, young, and therefore 

 sweet and juicy herbage to the heaviest and longest 

 luxuriance which fertility can afford. 



Another drawback to the average pasture is the 

 scarcity, at certain periods, of water, and its conse- 

 quent distastefulness. A horse is a dainty drinker. 



