AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 'HI 



from the sickly men of the regiments and those against whom 

 continual complaints are entered. The agricultural labor is 

 done by civilians. In busy seasons the number of laborers 

 reaches 600. All kinds of agricultural products are raised, 

 but principally oats and corn. Oxen are used for work. 

 Horses which have been injured or have in other ways become 

 unsuitable for army use are also employed in work and as sad- 

 dle horses for the attendants. The dwellings and the stables, 

 as at all the other depots, are on high gronnd. The pastures, 

 from 500 to 750 acres in extent, are inclosed by wire fences. 

 The horses are distributed in herds of about 100 each, and are 

 always guarded by two or three men, the noncommissioned 

 officer of the stables making frequent inspections. The horses 

 are kept outside as much as possible, but never over night. 

 They are taken out early in the morning. In summer during 

 the heat of the day they are brought in, and then taken out 

 again in the afternoon until night. The ration consists of 7.2 

 pounds of hay and 4.4 pounds of straw, no grain. 



The purchasing commissions take only those 3-year-olds 

 which seem susceptible of making good mounts for officers. 

 They pay for these young animals from $119.66 to $138.97. 

 These horses are very uniform, there being but little variance 

 among them. Fewer than one-fourth of the horses purchased 

 go to the depots, the remainder go directly to their regiments. 

 There are found in the depots only picked horses. When 

 they first arrive at the depot they are quarantined for six 

 weeks in a special stable, and are pastured in a field com- 

 pletely isolated. Afterwards they are put in common stables. 

 This undoubtedly prevents the spread of contagious diseases. 

 Horses of similar size and form are placed in the same stable, 

 but they are not selected or set apart for the diff^'erent branches 

 of the service until it is time to forward them to their regi- 

 ments. After a stay of six months at the depots the horses 

 are examined and marked by the commandant in classes from 

 to 7. Classes 7 and 6 contain the perfect and very good, 

 which enter definitely into the category of officers' horses. 

 Classes 5 and 4 are marked as almost very good and good, 

 and are noted to be inspected again. Another examination 

 of them is made before they can enter the first-named category. 

 Classes 3 and 2 will make noncommissioned officers' horses, 

 unless they greatly improve before leaving the depot ; 1 and 

 go to the troops. The young horses frequently change for 



