80 HORSES: 



temper is taken out. The English farmer feeds roots, 

 not because of any supposed high nutritive value, as 

 they are well known to be made up of three-fourths 

 and over of water, but because, in the case of fatten- 

 ing animals, especially cattle and sheep, roots main- 

 tain, in stock confined in the stall or pen, a condition 

 akin to that enjoyed while upon grass. But these 

 reasons do not at all apply to the horse ; in fact, this 

 is precisely what a living creature, whether man or 

 beast, should avoid — only dying animals, animals, that 

 is to say, designed for slaughter, and in whose cases 

 the question of sound health for next year and coming 

 years does not enter into the account, are subjects 

 for fattening, — for if, while kept either for work or 

 speed, he is made to accumulate fat from soft or 

 green food, in proportion to the fat so laid on, in that 

 proportion does he part with his ability to do bodily 

 labor. The less changes in his diet the better. He 

 will never lack for appetite unless he gets ahead of 

 his stomach ; and then give it time enough and it 

 will catch up ! 



But very few know anything of the value of oil- 

 cake meal for horses. Its use in fattening fine-bred 

 cattle has long been common, and its value fully ap- 

 preciated. The same can be said of swine, for no 

 other feed will cause a pig to gain, put him in show 

 condition so speedily, and give him a glossiness of 

 coat not obtainable in any other way so well as linseed 

 oil-cake meal. What oil-cake will do for cattle and pigs 

 it will do equally well for horses. A horse appear- 

 ing to be bound up, as this term is understood in the 



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