FRAXCE. 263 



linseed, etc., are obtained as substitutes for savings on tlie 

 regular ration. Temporarily, in France, the practice now is 

 to substitute 2.2 pounds of barley for an equal weight of oats 

 in the daily ration. In Algeria, barley is usually fed instead 

 of oats. 



Certain army corps are now experimenting with a ration 

 which with straw serves as a food component and increases 

 the hay and oats allowance. The weight of oats is carried to 

 10. -t and 13 pounds according to the arm; that of hay to 6.6 

 and 8.8 pounds according to the arm. An allowance of 3 

 cents a day per horse is paid. With this the captains may 

 buy turf, gorse, lieather, sawdust, fern, etc., for bedding. 

 Formerly straw alone was used as bedding. 



The straw for all purposes is chiefly wheat straw, that of 

 rye, oats, and barley being less frequently distributed. No 

 special straw is selected for feed, all coming from the same 

 loft. 



Both spring and winter oats are fed ; good oats are gray, 

 white, or black, clean, smooth to feel, without odor and 

 weighing from 55 to TO pounds to the bushel. 



During one month, generally from May 15 to June 15, the 

 majority of horses are fed green forage, about 22 pounds a 

 day. For convalescents and other special cases, this green 

 forage may be raised to 88 pounds a day. The only com- 

 pressed forage used is hay. This is considered to assure the 

 preservation of the hay (if perfectly dry when pressed) for 

 two or two and one-half years. The pressed bales weigh from 

 110 to 130 pounds each. The results obtained from use of 

 compressed hay have been uniformly excellent. 



GROOMING. 



In winter horses are groomed twice a day, once between 

 8.30 and 10 a m., and again about 3 p. m. 



The squadron commander regulates the method of feeding 

 his horses, but as a rule hay is fed at reveille, one-half the 

 day's ration of oats about 10 a. m. along with hay and straw, 

 and the rest of the day's ration of oats, hay, and straw about 

 4 p. m. 



FARRIERS. 



In each squadron of cavalry (which is about the strength 

 of a United States troop of cavalry) there are one farrier and 

 two assistant farriers. All farriers are men who have served 



