14 MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 



alone, that there was no need of any mixture. I 

 know not whether a scarcity of fodder first gave 

 rise to the suggestion of using this expedient, or it 

 was tried as an experiment ; but certain it is that 

 this kind of food agreed so well with the horses 

 that they became soon very sleek, and cast their 

 winter coats of hair long before other horses that 

 were fed in the common way. Cows would not eat 

 the whin tops thus prepared, but, in a winter of 

 scarcity, I have known all hands at work cutting 

 ivy from the trees, and even small ash twigs, to be 

 given to the cattle as fodder. 



