Feeds for the Horse. 



307 



fed: Hay, 26.6 pounds; potatoes, 30.8 pounds. Boussingault re- 

 fers to tlie experiment as follows: > "This -was a ration which it 

 was the more interesting to try, from the circumstance of Profes- 

 sor Liebig^ having come to the conclusion, from certain theoret- 

 ical views, that it must be impossible to keep horses in health and 

 strength upon hay and potatoes exclusively." The experiment 

 was continued a fortnight with the following results: 



Undoubtedly a large part of the reported gain was from the in- 

 creased weight of the contents of the alihientary tract, but it was 

 apparent that the ration was sufficient to nourish the horses. (316, 

 856, 897) 



4S7. Carrot. — The records show only a single trial with this 

 root, by Boussingault, * reported as follows: "On one occasion at 

 the stable of Bechelbronn, when the potato in one of our rations 

 was replaced by an equal weight of carrots, the effect was highly 

 disadvantageous, and even in following the theoretical equivalent 

 of the carrot (350 pounds carrots equal 100 pounds of good 

 meadow hay, calculated from chemical analysis), we had still no 

 reason to be perfectly satisfied." The carrot is not utilized in 

 this country by horsemen for furnishing nutriment, but rather for 

 satisfying the craving of the horse for succulent feed and for 

 variety. When given with that end in view its worth no doubt 

 far exceeds that measured by the nutrients contained. (317) 



488. Artichoke.— This tuber is held by Boussingault * to be an 

 excellent food for the horse. It is greedily eaten and horses 

 thrive on it. In an experiment by this investigator, thirty pounds 

 of sliced artichokes were substituted for half the hay in the ration. 



' Loc. cit., p. 402. 



* Agricultural Chemistiy. 



» Loc. cit. * Loc. cit. 



