200 STABLE ECONOMY. 



Lattermath hay is good for cows, not for horses. The 

 second cut is generally considered as inferior in nourishment 

 to the first. New hay is not wholesome. At Paris, when a 

 load of 1,000 kilos is bargained for, the seller must deliver — 

 if between haymaking and October 1, 1,300 kilos — from Oc- 

 tober 1 to April 1, 1,100 kilos — and after April, only 1,000. 

 This is fair, and allows for loss of weight in drying. In Lon- 

 don a load of new hay is 20 cwt., of old hay, only 18 cwt. 



The dried halm of the trifolium incarnatum, after the 

 seed is ripe, is little better than straw. Clover, lucerne, 

 and saintfoin, are generally supposed to lose three fourths 

 of their weight in drying ; but in general they lose more, 

 especially in moist climates, where the sap is more di- 

 luted. When touched by the frost, they become very un- 

 wholesome, and should never be given to cattle except quite 

 dry. 



Straw is, on the whole, but poor food, and unless cattle 

 have something better with it, they will not keep in any con- 

 dition ; when given with turnips or other roots, straw corrects 

 their watery nature, and is very useful ; cut into chaff it is 

 very good for sheep when fed on turnips and oil-cake, and 

 when newly thrashed is as good nearly as hay. By a judi- 

 cious mixture of different kinds of food, a more economical 

 mode of feeding may be substituted for a more expensive one, 

 and the same result obtained. The value of straw depends 

 much on the soil ; a very clean crop will not give so nourish- 

 ing straw as one containing many succulent weeds. Peas 

 and vetch halm are superior to straw, especially when cut 

 into chaff ; it is by some thought equal to hay. The same 

 may be said of bean halm not left too long in the field, and 

 cut before it is completely dry. Buckwheat halm is of little 

 value : it is thought unwholesome if given to sheep. 



16 lbs. of raw, or 14 lbs. of boiled potatoes will allow a 

 diminution of 8 lbs of hay. 



Turnips will feed store pigs, but they will not fatten on 

 them. Carrots and parsnips are excellent for horses, and, 

 when boiled, will fatten hogs. Ruta-baga is liked by horses : 

 it makes their coats fine, but must not be given in too great 

 quantity, or it will gripe them. 



Feeding. — A certain quantity of food is required to keep 

 an animal alive and in health : this is called his necessary 

 ration of food : if he has more he will gain flesh, or give milk 

 or wool. 



A horse usually requires 2^ per cent, of his live weight in 



