230 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
stable fittings, invented by Mr. Bruce, and brought out by 
Messrs Ransome and Sims, of Ipswich, consisting of a self- 
acting hay-rack, and self-supplying manger, a head-collar and 
tying apparatus, and an improved feeding sieve. 
In the hay-rack there are several advantages, not the least 
of which is, that the mere act of putting the hay in loosely 
and in small quantities, will in a great measure insure the 
separation of the dust from it, which in the over-head racks 
has so often proved injurious to the horse. 
Again, by a very simple contrivance, which keeps the hay 
always pressed to one point, and that the most natural and 
convenient for the horse to reach, the very great waste 
which results from the use of the level or the ground racks, 
is entirely prevented. By it also the amount of hay given to 
a horse can be regulated to a pound, an index being placed 
in the front for that purpose. When we say that this form of 
rack will obviate all or most of the deficiencies of those now 
used, we do not think we say too much in its favour. 
A single glance at the head collar as attached to the tying 
pillar, will suffice to show how well adapted it is for the 
intended purpose ; namely, that of preventing a horse being 
cast in his stall. On this point we need say no more. 
There are at present three modes of giving a horse his oats, 
the first of which is whole, or in their natural state ; the 
second, by mixing them with chaff; and the third by 
bruising them, or passing them through a mill till they are 
completely crushed. Now of these three modes, the first, from 
its being the natural one, is considered by many persons the 
best ; the others being thought to be merely artificial means 
of aiding nature, and which they say must, as a general rule, be 
deprecated, unless some functional derangement exists. The 
great object to be gained from feeding with whole oats, is to 
make the horse masticate the grain and insalivate it, which 
leads to easy and quick digestion, as the act of mastication 
necessarily prevents the horse “ bolting” the corn. The prin- 
cipal, perhaps, if not the sole cause of this “ bolting,” is to be 
referred to the horse having too easy an access to a large quantity 
of oats at one time, by which means a greedy feeder will so 
