stomach becomes engorged, its walls paralyzed, and ''colic" is almost 

 sure to follow. The horse should be fed three or four times a day ; nor 

 will it answer to feed liim entirely ui)on concentrated food. Bulky 

 food must be given to detain the grains in their passage through the 

 intestinal tract; bulk also favors distention, and thus mechanically 

 aids absorption. To horses that do slow work for the greater part of 

 the time, chopped or cut hay fed with crushed oats, ground corn, etc., 

 is the best manner of feeding, as it gives the required bulk, saves time, 

 and half the labor of feeding. 



Sudden changes of diet are always dangerous. — "When desirous of 

 changing the food, do so ver}'^ gradually. If a horse is accustomed to 

 oats a sudden change to a full meal of corn will almost always sicken 

 him. If we merel}' intend to increase the cjuantity of the usual feed, 

 this again must be done gradually. The quantity of food given must 

 always be in proportion to the amount of labor to be performed. If a 

 horse is to do less work, or rest entirely from work for a few days, see 

 that he receives less feed. If this was observed even on Saturday night 

 and Sunday there would be fewer cases of " Monday morning sickness," 

 such as colics and lymphangitis. Foods should also be of a more laxa- 

 tive nature w' hen the horse is to stand for some days. Above all things 

 we should avoid feeding musty or moldy foods. These are very fre- 

 quent causes of disease of different kinds. Lung trouble, as bron- 

 chitis and "heaves," often follows the use of such food. The digest- 

 ive organs always suffer from moldy or musty foods. Musty hay is 

 generally considered to i)roduce disorder of the kidneys; and all know 

 of the danger to pregnant animals from feeding upon ergotized grasses 

 or grains. 



Leaving these somewhat general considerations, I will refer briefly 

 to the different kinds of foods : 



Haij. — The best hay for horses is timothy. It should be about one 

 year old, of a greenish color, crisp, clean, fresh, andpo-ssessinga sweet, 

 pleasant aroma. Even this good hay, if kept for too great a length of 

 time, loses part of its nourishment, and while it VL\B,y not be positively 

 injurious, it is hard, dry, and indigestible. New hay is difficult to 

 digest, i^roduces much salivation (slobbering) and occasionally purg- 

 ing and irritation of the skin. If fed at all it should be mixed with 

 old hay. 



Second crop or afiennalh. — This is not considered good hay for 

 horses, but it is prized by some farmers as a good food for milch cows, 

 they claiming that it increases the flow of milk. The value of hay 

 depends upon the time of cutting, as well as care in curing. Hay 

 should be cut when in full flower, but before the seeds fall; if left 

 longer, it becomes dry and woody and lacks in nutrition. An essential 

 point in making hay is that when the crop is cut it should remain as 

 short a time as iwssible in the field. If left too long in the sun it loses 

 color, flavor, and dries or wastes. Smith asserts that one hour more 



