■VIEWS OF A VETERAN. 143 



in warm days. Others dump through a trap door into a cellar 

 under the stable, which is still more objectionable, though muck 

 and litter may be mixed up with it, and swine kept there to root 

 over and trample the layers. 



WATEBING AND GROOMING. 



Water the horse in the morning before feeding, otherwise it 

 might wash more or less of the food just eaten undigested from the 

 stomach. The water should be blood-warm in cold weather, but it 

 may be less so when mild. Never give water icy cold, as it might 

 produce chills or colic. After standing a few minutes let the horse 

 first eat a little hay, and then give the grain or meal ration. Now 

 remove the blanket and groom the horse, scratching lightly with 

 the curry-comb, followed by a brush that penetrates well through 

 the hair to the skin, until nicely cleaned. Use a comb with long 

 coarse t^eth to the mane, passing it through from the under side ; 

 then the hair is not pulled out or shortened on the top. Use this 

 comb also for the tail, in addition to which the top may require to 

 be brushed, but do this carefully so as not to pull out or rub off any 

 of the hair. A long full tail is a great beauty to a horse. If one 

 prefer, the legs and pasterns may be rubbed with wisps of straw 

 or hay instead of the curry-comb and brush. Finish by cleaning 

 the feet. 



FODDER. 



Hay for feeding horses is most esteemed in the Northern and 

 Eastern States, made from grasses in the following order: Timothy, 

 herds grass or red-top, orchard grass, ray grass; and both Alsike and 

 red clover. The two latter are best grown mixed with the above 

 grasses. If grown and fed alone, they must be free from dust, 

 otherwise it might be injurious to the health of the horse. All 

 should be cut in full blossom, and cured as much as possible in 

 the swath, windrow, or cock, as this best retains their sweetness 

 and tenderness. The Kentucky blue-grass is highly valuable where 

 it grows freely, and many prefer it to all other grasses for hay. 

 Every one of the above makes excellent pasture. 



In the valleys and on the vast plains east and west of the Rocky 

 Motmtajns, several very nutritious species of grass grow naturally, 

 alike excellent for pasture and hay. Alfalfa or Lucern grown 

 there gives three to four heavy cuttings during the season, imder 

 proper irrigation, but it must be fed with caution when green, for 

 fear of cohc. All Eastern grasses may also be freely grown there. 

 At the South, Japan clover is most highly prized, and next 



