SUGGESTIONS AS TO FOOD. 377 



Vetches, trifolium, lucern, clover, and all the natural 

 grasses make a nice change, if sparingly administered, 

 throughout the summer. For the winter, carrots, 

 white and red, mangel-wurzels, and Swedish turnips 

 form a nutritious food ; whilst for the spring, nothing 

 yet has been equal in its beneficial effect to a regular 

 diet of water-cresses. But as for over-worked or 

 delicately constituted horses the restorative qualities 

 of dry food are admittedly unrivalled, various con- 

 diments are now pretty generally used in first-class 

 establishments, such as ' Thorley's Food for Cattle,' 

 and ' Brownie's Calf Mixture.' As to their beneficial 

 effects in the stable, I need only refer the reader to 

 the beautifully coloured works of art to be seen at 

 every railway station. 



Yet with all that to this point has been achieved, 

 further improvement may be possible. 1 do not say 

 it is. I have no such presumption. I only point to 

 certain foods not yet embraced within the list of 

 stable-fare, and to their qualities ; leaving to others 

 of greater judgment and experience the choice and 

 manner of their use. Indian corn may be given in 

 combination with rye, the laxative properties of the 

 former assisting the digestion in extracting the nutri- 

 tious qualities of the latter. Holcus saccharine is 

 considered feeding, is palatable, and is generally 

 given in cases of mental weakness. Potatoes and 

 arrowroot, from the starch they contain, are nearly 

 allied to cereals, which thev might often beneficially 



