104: AMERICAN STABLE GUIDE. 



len, from tlie debilitating and innutritions substance called 

 bran ; and yet it is expected and belie^-ed, though never 

 seen, that bran-mashes will prevent disease and cure the 

 sick, and that it is in every wav adapted to the horse, sick 

 or well. 



The analysis and microscopical examinations of bran now 

 lies before me, made by men the world is pleased to call 

 scientific and competent; and yet we are, after twenty years' 

 \7el\-seas0ned experience in the feeding of horses, compelled 

 to say that if what is said by them of the nutritiousness of 

 bran be true, it is then in such combination as to render 

 it unfit for food to the horse, sick or well, idle or at work, 

 and he will soon sink from exhaustion if bran enters largely 

 into his daily allowance of food. A little bran, with other 

 and more substantial articles, may be occasionally given, 

 but not in suflacient quantity to loosen the bowels, nor be 

 counted to the horse as equal to so much other solid food, 

 for in doing so you deceive yourself and cheat the horse. 

 Other varieties of mill-feed might be mentioned in this 

 connection, but our space is limited. 



The Egyptian and horse-bean, the pea or vetch, Alsike 

 clover, rye-grass, salt, flaxseed, &c., &c., in some parts of 

 the world enter largely into the feed of horses, and are 

 no doubt very good, but many of them have not yet 

 received that attention from our agriculturists that they 

 deserve. We will now close this already too long chapter on 

 the various articles of horse feed that are produced, sold 

 and used in our stables. In concluding, we will simply 



