248 STABLE ECONOMY. 



under his work ; and even when idle, or nearly so, he should 

 not lose flesh. If he be half-starved in winter, the spring 

 will find him very unfit for the labor which it brings, and it 

 costs more to put flesh on the horse than to keep it on. 



" Mr. Harper of Bank Hill, Lancashire, ploughs seven acres 

 per week the year through, on strong land, with three horses, 

 each of which receive two bushels of oats per week, with 

 hay during the winter six months, and during the remainder 

 of the year one bushel of oats with green food. 



" Mr. Ellam of Glynde, in Sussex, gives two bushels of 

 oats, with peas-haulm, or straw, during thirty winter weeks ; 

 and one bushel of oats, with green food, in summer."* 



In Scotland, farm-horses are usually put upon hard food 

 by the beginning of October, receiving hay and a medium 

 allowance of oats, from six to nine pounds. In the months 

 of December and January, the hay gives place to straw, and 

 the oats are still farther reduced. In February, hay and a 

 full allowance of oats are given, and form the most of the 

 food till the commencement of June, when grass comes in. 

 The allowance of oats is then reduced, and the grass is either 

 given in the stable or in the field. f 



As winter food, Professor Low recommends cut-hay, cut- 

 straw, bruised or coarsely-ground grain, and cooked potatoes, 

 in equal proportion by weight. Of this mixture he says 30 to 

 35 pounds, or, on an average, 32^ pounds, will be sufficient 

 for any horse during the twenty-four hours. 



In the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, No. 21, the fol- 

 lowing mixture, in which there is no hay, is recommended 

 for its economy. The horse is fed thrice, receiving at each 

 time fifteen pounds : — 



In the morning he gets ^ ,^| ^^f* ""^ f^* ^"^^ ^^^'^ ^^^^ "^^^^ ^'^ 

 * ^ M '2 cut-straw. 



At 11 ( 3 « oat and bean meal, with 



At mid-day, ... ^ jg « cut-straw. 



C 1| " oat and bean meal, 

 At night .... < 2 " cut-stiaw, and 



( 11| " steamed potatoes. 



It is unnecessary accuracy to speak of straw or potatoes 

 by half pounds. Two or three pounds, more or less, of 

 either, produce little actual, and no appreciable difference on 

 the horse. 



In many, or most of the places in this neighborhood, farm- 

 horses are fed four or five times while workino- nine or ten 



* Complete Grazier, 181. Agricultural Survey of Sussex, pp. 378, 381. 

 \ Low's Elements of Agriculture. 



