ENGLISH A ND FOREIGN OA TS. 1 8 1 



prefer the use of upland hay for ordinary purposes. 

 Rye-grass, or rye-grass mixed with clover, is not 

 ill adapted for carriage work, but, as I before re- 

 marked, it should not be given for too long a period 

 without change to the lighter, natural hay. 



We may divide oats into two classes — viz., 

 English and foreign. Time was when the latter 

 were well-nigh unknown in the home markets. Of 

 late years, however, foreign competition has done 

 its best to drive home produce altogether out of the 

 field, and foreign oats can now be bought at prices 

 at which the British farmer cannot grow them, 

 to obtain anything like a profit. These foreign 

 oats, too, are, as a rule, very good. They may not 

 be quite as heavy as some of our best English, but 

 they are good enough for all ordinary purposes, 

 and, as I say, their price is also in their favour. 



Oats are either white, black, or gray. The 

 foreign oats are either white or black, more generally 

 the latter, and whether English or foreign, I must 

 confess that I am prejudiced in favour of black, 

 inasmuch as, although they may not have so plum}) 

 and full an appearance as the white, their skins are 

 generally thinner, and the quantity of actual food 

 in them is certainly greater, comparatively speaking. 

 Perhaps the best variety of all is the gray oat ; 

 but such are more expensive, and not always to be 



