190 THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



carriage work, and for big, heavy draught horses, 

 it answers very well. I am given to understand 

 that it is much used in the large tram and omnibus- 

 stables, and is, I have no doubt, excellent for such 

 a purpose ; but it is over-strong as food for a 

 gentleman's stable. I have no doubt but that, 

 when properly cooked, it would answer well for 

 carriage-horses. Its price is about 4s. per bushel. 



Linseed is a most valuable addition to the stable 

 menu. It is used for mashes, and is, where a 

 horse will eat it, a most desirable article of food, 

 especially after a hard day's work, such as hunting. 

 It requires long and careful cooking, until it is like 

 a jelly. Therefore, when a horse leaves the stable 

 on a hunting day, his linseed-mash may be at once 

 set on to cook, and it will not be ready any too 

 soon for him, whatever time he may come in. 



The merit of linseed lies chiefly in the fact that, 

 whereas it is a laxative, gentle and soothing, its 

 use by no means weakens the strength of a horse, 

 its laxative powers being more than compensated 

 for by its nutritious qualities. Used as a meal, it 

 is invaluable for the purposes of poulticing. In the 

 form of oil, it is equally useful in other ways as a 

 tonic and flesh-former ; but I will refer to its use 

 in these two forms later on. 



I think it is Mr. May hew who, in his book on 



