The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-25
From the Edinburgh Scotsman.
Highland and Agricultural Society.

The monthly meeting of the society was held in
the Museum hail. on Wednesday the 18th Febru-
ary.-Sir John M'Neill G.. c. B., in the chair.
SUBsoIL PLoUeHIsG.-Mr Hall Maxwell, the sec
rotary, submitted resolution the question dis
cussed in January-s'The advantages or disadvan-
tages of subsoil ploughing, and of trench plough
ing, to the effect that the meeting, while 1t APP
proved generally Of deep ploughing, not in a
position TO adopt any definite resolution with regard
TO the advantages disadvantages Of subsoiling
of trench Ploughing, partly in consequence of the
want Of comparative experiments, the results Of
which might have furnished data for decision, and
also owing to the great difference Of opinion ex-
pressed during the discussion"
FEEDING FARM HoRsEs.-Mr. Gibson, Woolmct,
in opening the discussion upon this subject re-
marked that he had generally found that those
horses bred upon the farm were more hardy, easier
kept and less liable to disease than those brought
from distance. Cart mares ought not TO foal un-
I'll spring work is over and the prospect Of grass is
near; when the foal is weancd in autumn, il ought
70 be fed with nutritious food In the winter sea-
son, young horses ought always 10 get due pro-
portion Of soft food, and be kept in a roomy place,
where they can take the necessary exercise; and
where enclosures conveniently situated for let
ting them run out in fine weather il will be found
most beneficial They ought not to be put TO grass
too early and should be prepared gradually for the
change, and upon no account let them remain at
grass too late in the season they should be
fully and frequently handled, and kindly treated
IL this be attended TO they will be easily trained
work. II Il can be avoided, young horses ought
not 10 be put 10 work before they three years
OLD, nor Cartcd before tney arc nve, the better
they treated at this tender age the longer they
will wear. The system of feeding no adopted was
follows: From the middle of October till the end
of May his horses got one feed of steamed food
and two feeds of oats daily, with the best oat or
wheat straw for fodder. He never gave bean straw
having often the bad effects Of IL. He used il
generally for litter. The steamed food well
washed Swedish turnips and potatoes, in equal
proportions, mixed with sifted wheat chah At
i've o'clock in the morning each horse gets six
pounds Of bruised oats, at noon the same quantity
Of oats, and at halfpast seven, m, forty. seven
pounds weight OF steamed food. The expense Of
this mode of feeding, at present prices in the dis
trict, for each horse per annum, amounted TO G24,
Os. I'D He had acted upon this system for the
last fifteen years, and always had from sixteen 10
twenty horses, and during that period had lost only
seven horses, three Of thcm being from accidental
Mr.. Binnie, Seton Mains, said he considered that
economy in feeding the horse embraced the health,
condition and stamina Of the animal, and he had
found those ends well served by adopting, as near
ly as possible, tho following mode Of management
From lst October 10 goth May, his horses fed
thrice a day tho morning and mid day feeds con-
sistng of lbs of oats and bruised beans each feed,
Zone part of the latter TO two Of the formerly the
present cost Of both diets would be something like
3D.. the evenings feed was composed Of 35 lbs tur
nips and lbs. barley, well boiled together, which
with the expense Of Goals, salt, and womans wages
for cooking) he put down at CID. He only used
wheat or oat straw (uncut as fodder, and he would
take the cost at 3D.. per day. From 10th May
(wben, by top-dressing, he had generally cutting
grassy until lst July, nc allowed two feeds Of oats
and beans, and as much cut grass as satisfied the
horse IN stable during day, and turn him 10 the,
pastures for the night From Let July TO LIST Octo-
Der, he found, on average, that his horses con.
stunned, as nearly as he could calculate, a feed of
oats each per day; and, taking cutting and pas
turc grass Mt 81 per imperial acre. his statement
resolved itself into cost, nearly as possible Of
E2S los. per horse per annum.
Mr.. steedman Of Bogha said he fed his horses
in similar manner 10 that Of Mr.. Binnic
Mr. SUI zoid he rft ot,I all.