BEANS AND PEAS. 189 



that they should be hard, and not soft. Old beans 

 in good condition are very hard. Beans are usually 

 sold by the bushel. The price of good old beans 

 is about 5s. Gd. per bushel. As food for horses, 

 they must be used with discretion. They are 

 stimulating, and are heating, and there are many 

 horses which cannot stand them. They should at 

 no time be given for a lengthened period, as they 

 are apt to induce swelled legs, humours, and 

 itchiness of the skin. A double-handful is an 

 ample quantity for an ordinary horse. I may add 

 that their use is by no means as general as it was 

 formerly, and I think it is as well, for much harm 

 was produced from a too liberal diet of them. 



Peas possess all the advantageous properties of 

 beans without their detrimental qualities, and where 

 such food is required, it is better to use them in 

 preference to beans ; but these also should be 

 given in moderation (much the same in quantity 

 as beans), and their use should not be over-long 

 continued. The white peas are best suited for 

 horses. They are somewhat expensive as horse- 

 food, but they are a good addition at times, and 

 put heart into, and muscle on, a weakly horse. 

 Their price is about 5s. 6d. per bushel. 



Maize, or Indian corn, is hardly suitable for 

 horses which are used for fast work. For slow 



