FEEDING HOUSES. 397 



vetch, and the oil-bearing flax-seed, and, perhaps, cotton- 

 seed. Cotton-seed, when decorticated, would be excellent 

 to mix 1-20 with oats, barley, rye, etc., before grinding. 

 When the tough rind is taken off it is a healthy food, in 

 small quantity. Its large per cent, of oil would prevent 

 its being fed as more than a fifteenth part of the ration. 

 But the oil in that small part of the ration would be suffi- 

 cient to keep the digestive organs in an open, healthy con- 

 dition. All this may be more strongly said of the good 

 effects of flax-seed, when used in this small proportion. 

 The husk of flax-seed is not objectionable like that of 

 cotton-seed, and the oil is extremely mild and soothing. 



The author has used flax-seed, in the small proportion 

 mentioned, in feeding colts, intended for fast work, with 

 the most satisfactory results keeping their coats in fine 

 condition, the skin clean, the bowels free, and by this giving 

 an even development to the muscles of the limbs and 

 whole body. When thus using flax-seed in the ration, 

 never had a case of staring coat or feverish condition of 

 the system. 



We have given these various grains, which are easily 

 produced in most parts of the country, and will afford a 

 good variety of food to promote the health and growth of 

 the young, and the health and capacity for work in the 

 mature horse. 



Oats, by common consent, stand at the head. But it is 

 highly probable, that the real reason for this general 

 4 preference for oats, rests upon the fact that about K of 

 oats consists of husk, which must be eaten with the meat 

 of the grain, and thus gives bulk in the masticated food, 

 and a loose texture through its substance, permitting a 

 freer circulation and more complete digestive action of the 

 gastric juice. 



Barley is an excellent food for horses, but is not generally 

 used because of its greater value for malting. Its husk 



