352 



THE ILLINOIS FAKMER. 



Dec. 



light of burning houses and ruined planta- 

 tions, leading out towards Mexico, where 

 the base spirits that set the ball in motion 

 • will overrun that unfortunate country. Wo 

 have lost no faith in the progress of the age, 

 but are prepared to see these wonderful 

 changes follow each other in quick fucces- 

 sion. It is but a few years since, we read 

 of railways constructed in England for the 

 purpose of passenger trafl&c, and our news- 

 papers discussing the propriety of their 

 practicability in the United States. A little 

 later and we rode from Schenectada to Al- 

 bany, a distance of sixteen miles in coaches 

 partly by steam and partly by horse-power 

 These coaches held some half a dozen pas- 

 sengers each, the conductor passing along 

 on the outside of the line of coaches to col- 

 lect the tickets, which were invariably paid 

 for before you were allowed to take a seat. 



This was hailed as a wonderful stride in 

 the world's progress ; but now, people cease 

 to wonder at the net-work of iron that is 

 laid over the then wild prairies. If these 

 decades have accomplished so much, why 

 may we not expect to see in the next what 

 we have predicted ? We have the applian- 

 ces and the will to do it. 



The Horse in the Stable, 



If one would have a good horse on the road, 

 he must take care of him in the stable. To the 

 man that is fond of that noble animal, the horse, 

 the stable is no mean place which is the home of 

 his faithful servant. A part of the secret of the 

 differences among horses, may be found in the 

 different ways they are treated in the stable. 



This building need not have the embellish- 

 ment of architecture, nor be made air-tight, but 

 it should be comfortable — made to promote the 

 comfort of its occupant. It should be well ■ven- 

 tilated, by allowing a draught of fresh air con- 

 stantly to pass through it, especially during the 

 warmer months. Do not allow the air of the 

 Btable to be made offensive and unhealthy by the 

 presence of ammonia escaping from the excre- 

 ments. Keep the air in your stable as sweet as 

 it is in your own house ; for such is necessary 

 for the health of a horse. 



Plaster of paris used freely about the stable 

 is quite desirable — both on the score of comfort 

 and profit. It is cruel to foster a noble horse in 

 a stable where the air is suffocating on account 

 of noxious gases constantly generating and es- 



caping for want of a few quarts of some absor- 

 bent. 



The floor of the stall should not have much in- 

 clination — only enough to allow the water to pass 

 off. The more level the surface on which a 

 horse stands, the better. 



It is said that " sprung knees " are occa- 

 sioned partly by standing on a steep floor in the 

 stable. That such a floor is not pleasant for the 

 horse, is clearly seen in the fact that when such 

 a stall is wide, the horse will stand across his 

 stall in order to find the most level position. 



Let the horse feel as naturally as possible in 

 the stable. He has been furnished with a long 

 neck in order that he may reach down to feed, as 

 he does in the pasture, and not that he may 

 reach up, and pull out a small lock of hay from 

 ihc rack. Give a horse a manger to feed out of, 

 so that he can enjoy ealing, aod do not oblige 

 him to steal his fodder from a rack, with narrow 

 spaces, as though he did not deserve his keeping. 

 It is thought that a horse Avill waste his hoy if 

 he is fed from a manger ; tut he will not if he 

 has good hay given in proper quantities. 



The best horesemen say, feed your horse as 

 you do yourself. Give him his breakfast, din- 

 ner and supper, and nothing between meals. 

 It is a mistakea kindness that keeps hay contin- 

 ually before a horse. AVhen he has more hay 

 before him than he can eat up clean, he wastes 

 it, or eats more than his system requires. 



A horse should have enough to eat, and then, 

 if not in use, should stand three or four hours 

 with nothing before bim. Such a course ol 

 treatment keeps his appetite keen, and he relishes 

 his dinner. 



Let him have a generous supply of good bed- 

 ding. A horse enjoys a good, nice bod as much 

 as a man, and why should he not have it ? A 

 good horse deserves it. Because he cannot com- 

 plain of sleeping in the wet and dirt of the 

 stable, or on hard plank, let no man thiuk that 

 his horse does not appreciate such favors as a 

 good bed. He will lie down during the day oc- 

 casionally, if he is well cared for. For summer 

 use, saw-dust makes excellent bedding. It is 

 cool, sweet and even ; and also keeps the stall in 

 a bealhy condition. 



A supply of fresh, clean water is indispensible 

 to the comfort of man and beast. I have noticed 

 that my horse drinks the most heartUy after eat- 

 ing her supper, about eight o'clock in the eve- 

 ning. 



Grooming is one of the civilties of the stable, 

 and ought to be attended to daily. It not only 

 causes a horse to look well, but it promotes 

 health. A faithful groom is equal lo two quarts 

 of oats. 



Such attention paid to a good horse is by no 

 means like "casting pearls before swine." He 

 who does it, and treats his horse kindly, is supe 

 of his reward. — Veterinary Journal. 



8@„President Lincoln, though exempted spec- 

 ially by the national tax law from the provisions 

 of the act, has directed to be deducted from his 

 salary, just as if he were not exempt. 



e sure you are right, then go ahead. 



