THE STRAW-YARD. 279 



cessary they should. "When grass is abundant, and hay scarce, 

 the former may wholly or partly supply the place of the lat- 

 ter. Without other fodder it is too laxative for fast-working 

 horses. 



Cart-horses usually receive cut grass so long as it is in 

 season. It is generally cheaper than hay ; when dearer it 

 may be dispensed with. I know not how much a draught- 

 horse will consume in twenty-four hours. Professor Low, I 

 think, states it at 200 pounds, which seems to be a very large 

 quantity, and perhaps excludes grain. In the " British Hus- 

 bandry," the daily consumption, with a little grain, is supposed 

 to vary from 84 to 112 pounds. 



In soiling horses upon a small quantity of grass, it is given 

 alone, or mixed with hay. Given by itself, it is apt to make 

 the horses refuse their hay. It is better that the two should 

 be mixed, especially when the hay is not very good. It is 

 usual to do so, but the grass and the hay are seldom well 

 mingled. They are so carelessly thrown together, that the 

 horse is able to pick out the grass, and throw the hay among 

 his feet. To mix them properly, they should be placed in a 

 heap, layer upon layer, pressed together, and allowed to stand 

 for two or three hours, so that the grass may communicate a 

 part of its succulence and flavor to the hay. Afterward they 

 may be incorporated by tossing the heap over two or three 

 times. 



When only one or two horses are to be soiled, they should 

 be placed apart, or get the grass when the other horses are 

 out, otherwise they will refuse their food, and be much annoy- 

 ed to see their neighbors enjoying a luxury of which they can 

 not partake. They neither rest nor feed. 



THE STRAW-YARD 



Horses are sometimes turned out all winter to a place called 

 a straw-yard. It is, properly speaking, a manure-yard, a 

 dung-pit, a place fitter for manufacturing manure than for 

 lodging horses. It often contains oxen, calves, colts, and 

 swine, as well as horses. It is generally destitute of shelter, 

 and the food consists of straw and hay, or of straw only. 

 Often there is not even an allowance of water, except when 

 the man finds it convenient and not disagreeable to carry it. 

 People who bargain for a winter's run, or imprisonment, in a 

 straw-yard, do sometimes pay for a small daily allowance of 

 grain, which, however, is not always given. 



