390 FEEDING ANIMALS. 



But let us call attention to that grain ration which is 

 easily obtained in all parts of the country equal weight 

 of oats and corn ground together 1 6 Ibs. of the composi- 

 tion fed with one bushel of cut hay, or half hay and half 

 straw, will enable a team horse to do good work. But a 

 better ration still is, 950 Ibs. of oats, 950 Ibs. of corn, and 

 100 Ibs. of flax-seed, all ground together. The 20th part 

 of flax-seed improves the ration in albuminoids, and very 

 much in oil 35 Ibs., or 1% per cent, to the 2,000 Ibs. We 

 have fed this for long periods sometimes two years con- 

 tinuously and have found no ration that surpasses it. It 

 is well balanced as a working ration, and juSt laxative 

 enough for health. It keeps the coat fine and glossy ; and, 

 as I think, by its aperient quality, prevents colds and 

 other diseases following them. It is probable that decorti- 

 cated cotton-seed would do as well as flax-seed, and would 

 be a valuable addition to the ration for Southern horses. 

 Decorticated cotton-seed meal may also be profitably used 

 in the ration for horses, but it should seldom exceed IK to 

 2 Ibs. per day. 



The American Institute Farmers' Club appointed a com- 

 mittee to make a thorough examination of the method of 

 feeding in omnibus and railroad stables of New York City, 

 where the number of horses is so large that a useful lesson 

 could be learned. This was in 1855. (See transactions of 

 that year.) We give the important part of the report, and 

 our readers can study it with profit : 



<e It is the object of the stage proprietors to get all the 

 work out of their teams possible, without injury to the 

 animals. Where the routes are shorter, the horses conse- 

 quently make more trips, so the different amounts and pro- 

 portions of food consumed are not so apparent when the 

 comparison is made between the different lines, as when it 

 is made also with the railroad and livery horses. The 

 stage horses consume the most and the livery horses least. 



