260 STABLE ECONOMY. 



square, about six times in the course of summer, after sun 

 set, but the fence would not confine him. No. 5 was fired, 

 and stood in a stall all day ; in the cool of evening and early 

 at morning he went to the paddock. No. 6 was kept in an 

 airy box, but being vicious, was not so often in the paddock 

 as she should have been. 



Medicine. — The first dose of physic was given on the 22d 

 of June : on the 18th of July each horse got a second dose, 

 which was mild. In the month of August, each horse re- 

 ceived one half pound of antimony, an ounce at a time for 

 eight successive days. More physic, it was expected, would 

 not be required till after Christmas, but some of the horses 

 had got an alterative ball every week. 



Comparative Cost. — To avoid fractions, the period may be 

 called nine weeks. During the hunting season the horses 

 consumed three hundred-weight of hay per week ; but in 

 these loose places some is wasted, and more is eaten, the 

 horses having less grain. The quantity consumed by the six 

 horses may be calculated at five hundred-weight per week. 



Forty-five cwt. of hay, at £4 per ton, - - - £9 

 Seventy-one bushels of oats at 4s. per bushel - - 14 4 

 Beans 1 10 



24 14 

 Six horses at grass for 9 weeks, at 4s. each per week 10 16 



Difference 13 18 

 About three pounds of the stable outlay would return for 

 manure ; and if any one of the horses were sold at the com- 

 mencement of next hunting season, his condition would be 

 such that he would bring at least twenty-five pounds more 

 than if he had been summered at grass.* 



According to this account, it appears that each horse costs 

 about five shillings more per week in the stable than at grass. 

 I am, however, inclined to think that the difference will be 

 be fouD'l considerably greater when other items are taken into 

 consideration. The cost of grass for soiling, of straw for lit- 

 ter, of attendance, of stable-room, and a few other little arti- 

 cles, is omitted. To the proprietor of an established stud the 

 expenditure for these is insignificant ; but every charge on 

 both sides should be known before it can be told whether the 

 horses may be stabled or grazed. 



Objections to Home Summering. — The expense attending 

 the in-door system is the only objection that can, I think, be 

 * Nimrod on the Condition of Hunters, pp. 258, 260. 



