372 
ON BREEDING. 
in this balmy season when the poet, naturally enough, supposed 
the world first rose to birth:— 
“ When first man’s iron race nprear’d its head, 
When first to beasts the wild and wood were given. 
And stars unnumber’d paved th’ expanse of heaven.” 
Numerous instances could be brought forward to prove, that 
most animals in a state of nature, not excluding even the insect 
tribes, bring forth only at those seasons of the year when the 
weather and the food peculiar to the species are best adapted 
to the constitution of their offspring. The genial months of 
spring, appear to possess the happy medium between the two 
extremes of heat and cold, and will be found sufficiently early to 
enable the breeder to obtain for his colts the nutritious grasses 
of July and August, by weaning them earlier than is commonly 
practised. The generality of breeders wean their colts at Mi¬ 
chaelmas, when the grass has lost most of its nourishment; but 
there is no occasion for keeping the colt so long on the mother 
as is usually practised. “ The Arabs only keep the colt on the 
mother thirty days ; after which it is weaned, and reared entirely 
on camel’s milk, for the space of a hundred days*.” In this in¬ 
stance we might also be benefited by imitating the Arabs. We 
cannot obtain camel’s milk, it is true; but cow’s milk would not 
be a bad substitute. Whatever attention and trouble breeders 
bestow on the young colt during the first two years, will be 
amply repaid him hereafter. The colt is placed on the globe 
tolerably perfect by the hands of the Creator; but he too fre¬ 
quently degenerates under the treatment pursued. We, there¬ 
fore, beg to remind breeders of horses that, for the production of 
a good stock, it is necessary that “ all animals should be as well 
fed as bred No animal will pay for starving: if it is not 
worthy of having proper food given it, it is by far better to g*et 
rid of it at once. We do not recommend, though, the richest and 
most luxuriant grass to be given to colts: this practice would be 
productive of more injury than feeding on an impoverished spil. 
The range of a firm, dry meadow, rather bare than luxuriant, 
with a proportionable allow ance of oats morning and evening, is 
far more suitable for colts, till two or three years old, than too 
rich a pasture. 
It is a common practice to feed colts, in the winter season, on 
turnips and potatoes: we consider this to be rather pernicious 
than otherwise. A moderate allowance of hay, bran, and oats, 
with a few carrots, would be far better. 
The foregoing* directions are given for horses intended for 
speed ; but for purposes of draught only, where weight and size 
* Burckhardt. 
