OYER AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
541 
the ages of all blood stock date from the 1st of January, they 
should foal as soon after that time as is possible, particularly 
so now, as all important races are for two and three years J old 
colts. It is manifest that a start of three months in a two 
year old is something important, and worth trying for, 
minding, nevertheless, that the colt is not dropped too early, 
that is, before the 1st of January. The blood mare, when 
carrying her foal, and near her time of foaling, should be 
kept well, have a large and roomy box, with plenty of clean 
bedding, be carefully watched, but never interfered with 
when foaling, unless there is malpresentation or other diffi¬ 
culty, for in a general way nature is all-sufficient, and no 
assistance is required. Care and attention may be requisite 
in getting the foal to suck, and a little tact and patience on 
the part of the attendant may be called for to reconcile the 
dam to her offspring, for from over anxiety or irritability on 
the part of the mare, accidents to foals are not uncommon 
occurrences. This difficulty over, little remains to be done, 
except in cases where mares are deficient in milk. The colt 
then should be induced to drink cow J s milk and water, in 
about equal parts, with some sugar added to it. The mare 
should have plenty of good hay, ground oats, bran, carrots, 
boiled barley, &c., and a constant supply of good water. 
Her box should be kept clean, light, airy, yet warm, and well 
ventilated. She should again be put to the horse on the 
ninth day after foaling. As the season advances the mare 
and foal may be let out into a paddock for exercise, if the 
weather is fine and moderately warm, for a few hours in the 
middle of the day ; they should then be taken up again. As 
the season further advances, they may be left out longer, and 
taken up only at night, with the same allowance of corn &c. 
We will now consider the other classes of mare, from the 
half-bred to the heavy draught mare. The most proper time 
to put them to the horse will be in April or early in May, so 
that you may calculate on their foaling when the weather is 
warm and the grass . plentiful. They, like the blood mare, 
require care and attention at the time of foaling; and a large, 
roomy, and airy box, witli a liberal allowance of good, nutri¬ 
tious, and succulent food, is essential. They should never 
be allowed to foal in the field, as the foal is very liable to get 
into a pit or ditch and be drowned. Indeed, the mare is not 
exempt from such casualties, if so exposed. I should here 
remark that the mare may work at easy draught until very 
near the time of foaling, but on no account must she shaft 
after the sixth month of gestation. Shafting and holding 
back heavy weights has a very injurious effect on the pregnant 
