1 84 THE. O UGH STABLE AND SA DDLE-R O OM. 



nails. They should be crisp and floury. Finally, 

 take some and chew them. They should have 

 a pure, fresh, milky taste. If such oats are a 

 proper weight, you may safely buy them, provided 

 they can stand the above tests. 



In weighing oats, insist that the bushel-measure 

 is filled quickly. A sharp, dishonest dealer will, by 

 slowly filling and shaking the measure, apparently 

 accidentally, make oats weigh some two or three 

 pounds more to the bushel than is their fair, actual 

 weight. Taking oats of 40 lb. to the bushel as a 

 fair sample, it will be seen that each sack should 

 weigh 160 lb. At 38 lb. it would weigh 

 152 lb. 



The use of straw in a stable is restricted prin- 

 cipally to that for bedding purposes. Good wheat- 

 straw is the best, and the better it is of its kind 

 the longer it will last ; consequently, it is true 

 economy to ever buy the best which can be pro- 

 cured. Where wheat-straw is not easilv to be 

 obtained, oat-straw may be substituted for it ; but 

 it is very inferior, and does not last as long or look 

 so well as wheat. 



The price of straw varies very considerably, 

 according as the season has been good or bad. Of 

 late years the price has been generally higher, and 

 it will, I fear, rise still more, inasmuch as the 



