No. 151.] 343 



bushels of carrots, and yield about eight tons of green tops. As 

 the carrot is a root depending mainly upon the soil for nourishment, 

 the tops may be cut with a scythe, and fed, before the roots are dug; 

 they are very hardy, require but little attention, bear neglect for 

 half the winter in the fields unprotected, which admirably suits a 

 slovenly farmer. (They should, however, be dug and stored by the 

 first of November.) Horses fed on carrots, present a beautiful glos- 

 sy coat. It is a crop almost indispensable to a man who practices 

 soiling. The parsnip, mangel wurtzel, turnep, and potato, are 

 likewise very valuable, but in my estimation, not so much so as the 

 carrot. 



In changing the food of my horses from green to dry, and vice 

 versa, I am particularly careful in seeing that it is done by degrees, 

 as on one or two occasions I have noticed that an immediate change 

 has produced hoven "in cattle, though I have not observed any ill 

 effects in horses. Still, I think it best to break off gradually. If, 

 for instance, you are feeding corn, add green food a short time be- 

 fore you intend to make the change, and increase it constantly while 

 you diminish the corn. Horses, when soiled, should be fed in small 

 quantities and often. An immense advantage gained in soiling hor- 

 ses is, that you have them always at hand when required for labor, 

 and not having enjoyed leisure in the fields, they never show any in- 

 disposition to render themselves useful; the time lost in catching 

 them when required, is frequently severely felt by the farmer. I 

 have known half a day consumed in this way, by a hard-working 

 man, and all his farm help. Still, as his grand-father never soiled* 

 his horses, he would not, but contented himself by swearing the 

 horse should never go unhoppled again. Hoppling is the result of v 

 pasturing. It is a bad practice, and serious to the gait of any ani- 

 mal, besides rendering him incapable of defending himself pro- 

 perly from the flies; the consequence is, he b *omes poor in flesh, and 

 a disgrace to his hard-hearted, stubborn master. 



If the farmer will not take my advice, and soil his horses con- 

 stantly, for his own advantage, he should do it partially. He should 

 cut grass for them during the day, and turn them into some well 

 clothed meadow at night. Thus they will escape the detestable fly 

 and enjoy some quiet and ease, a"nd be enabled to select grasses more 

 congenial to their tastes than those he had cut for them. In the 

 agricultural report for Essex, in England, it is said that two hors- 

 es have been supported during four months upon a quarter of an 

 acre of lucerne, with scarcely any thing given to them besides; and 



