40 BEANS. 



the work of the horse happen to become more severe than 

 ordinary, more of the corn is of course to be given. A large- 

 sized horse, or one excessively worked, wUl of necessity require 

 a larger quantity of com during the period named. It is common 

 to add a portion of chopped hay and a little water to the feed at 

 the time it is given. In using the above mixture, care should be 

 exercised in the first instance to have the crushed oats genuine ; 

 otherwise, through the nefarious tricks of the corn-dealer, the 

 buyer may possibly find himself the possessor of ground husks 

 destitute of meal. When, however, the oats are crushed at 

 home, it is the fault of the buyer if he is cheated. 



Beans. — Beans are considered by the majority of grooms to 

 be stronger corn than oats ; by which I suppose is meant that 

 beans contain more nutrition than the latter. Beans are cer- 

 tainly specifically much heavier than oats, and this may account 

 for the difierence which is to be observed when horses are fed 

 by measure rather than by weight. The best samples of oats 

 will rarely weigh over forty-two pounds to the bushel, while 

 the same measure of good beans will weigh sixty-three pounds ; 

 a difference of one-third in favour of the latter. The opinion 

 of the more intelligent of our grooms, is to the effect that beans 

 are more suitable for old than for young horses : in the latter 

 the use of them is found to produce rashes upon the skin, 

 cracks within the heels, and (if given in very large quantities) 

 inflammation within the laminse of the feet. Horses suddenly 

 removed from a poor diet, and liberally fed with beans, are 

 almost certain to be attacked with either inflammation of the 

 feet or of the skin. Some horses cannot do with beans at all. 

 Their use occasions disorder in almost every way. Great care 

 is therefore necessary in using them, particularly as regards 

 young horses, or those in a state of poverty. The usual care 

 should be exercised in the purchase of beans : the small-sized 



