580 
FEEDING HORSES AND HOUNDS. 
feeding hounds; another, that the bran contains an acrid resin, 
prejudicial to the delicate intestines of the canine species. It is 
generally known the sympathy which exists between the intestines 
and the skin of animals; and the above reason will account for the 
roughness of coat ana irritation observable in dogs fed with barley- 
meal. In these times of scarcity there may be some difficulty in 
procuring oatmeal from the ordinary dealers, uncontaminated by a 
mixture of other kinds of grain, such as barley, peas, or beans of 
an inferior quality, any of which must be very prejudicial, inas- 
much as the boiling process which oatmeal requires will produce 
an adverse effect on the intrusive barley. Peas generate too much 
carbonic acid gas to be admitted with impunity. This difficulty 
might surely be overcome by masters of hounds furnishing their 
own oats, having them dried, husked, and ground at the mills in 
their own neighbourhood; for although there are many districts in 
which making oatmeal is not commonly practised, there is no great 
secret or art required. The supply from Ireland, is perhaps, scarcely 
to be depended upon at the present period ; but it is to be hoped 
the Patlanders will have better luck in future. Yet there is a vast 
quantity of excellent oatmeal made in Wales, from whence navi- 
gation and railways will convey the commodity to almost any part 
of the kingdom at a moderate charge. A most erroneous impres- 
sion exists as to the number of hounds kept throughout England 
and Wales. There appears to be in all about one hundred different 
packs, somewhere about thirty of which hunt four, five, and six 
days in the week ; the average number in each of their kennels 
may be estimated at from sixty to seventy couples: about the same 
number hunt three days in the week, whose average will be found 
under thirty-five couples : the remainder, among which- are many of 
what are termed “ scratch-packs,” wherein not twenty couples are 
worked ; but allowing their average to be twenty-five couples, this 
calculation will be over rather than under the mark. 
ON THE ADVANTAGES OF STEEPING THE FOOD 
OF CATTLE IN WATER. 
By M. Boussingault. 
Many farmers jnake a practice of steeping their dry fodder 
before giving it to the cattle : in the opinion of these practical 
men, hay and clover acquire, by imbibing water, more nutritive 
properties. Twenty-five pounds of clover hay will absorb enough 
