Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-06-13
TIE EVENING STAR.
Bad Effects of Grass on Colts.

bao Oh cress on tSAss
When horses are turned out to grass In the
spring Of the year, the succulent nature of the
food GAUGES them to purge, often to great ex-
tent, this is considered By many persons a
most desirable event-s great misconception.
Ths heritage 10 Overehsrged with moisture
and sap, of a crude, acrimonious nature, to
sueh an extent that all cannot be taken up by
the organs destined for the secretion Of urine,
or by the absorbent vessels Of the body; the
superauous fluid, therefore, passes of through
tho intestines with the indigestible particles
Of food, and thus the Watery faces are thrown
Oh. Flatulent chOlic or gTipes is q frequent
attendant. The system is dersnged; but the
mischief does not terminate here. If the
purging Is continued, a constitutional relax
alton Of the bowels Is established, very debil
itating to the animal, and often difficult 10
control. am go decidedly opposed to unre-
strieted allowance Of luxuri1nt grass to horses
O. any age, that nsthing could induce me to
give IL to them. After the second year, hay
SHOULD form a considerable portion Of the daily
food in summer to every animal intended for
huntiI z or riding
If q horse is supported entirely upon the
grass which ne collects in a rich pasture field,
or upon that which may be cut and carried to
him In his paddock, he must consume a much
greater bulk than Of hsy in an equivalent
time, to Efford nourishment to the system.
Grass being very full of sap and moisture, il is
very rapidly digested, consequently the horse
must 70 continually eating il. This distends
the stomach and bowels, and the faculty Of
digestion is impaired, for the digestive powers
I'Y"iIo Ivst as veil Us UtbOr organs nf tho
body, if they are to be preserved in perfect
condition. BY the custom Of grsziDg, the
muscular system is enfeebled, and fat is sub
siituted. This may escape the notice Of the
superficial observers, who do not mark the
distinction between the appearance of q fat
and a muscular animal, who conceive SO that
ha L..
rounded, all that is requisite has been at
tanned. But that is a very fallscious impress
sion Let any person who is skeptical on this
point ride y horse in the summer who has Just
been taken from grass, along with another
kept on hsy aud corn, at the moderate rate Of
seven or eight miles an hour; the grass fed
horse will sweat profusely, while the other
will be perfectly dry. This proves that the
one eating grss, overbounds with fat and those
portions Of the blood which are destined to
form that deposit
These who will advocate grazing will no
doubt eIclsim, '0h, this is a test condition
which is not required in young and growing
ARRIVALS beg 10 s ate that it is highly i'm
portGnt. il the acme Of condition is to be at
tanned by animals OF mature age, that the
growth and gradual development of their
frsmes should be composed of those healthy
and vigorous e.ernenis upon which the struc-
ture OF future condition can be raised. Animal
vlent 70 the naturo AID quality Of the food
with which the individuals are nourished /
believe farmers would ind it much TO their
a!sartFSs If they were - consider this sub
J OF With reference 10 feeding cattle and sheep,
So thar they might select those kinds of food
wo'oh abound With properties more conducive
10 the production Of flesh than fat There is
no kind Of food ubich the horse consumes
which has not Il tendency to deposit fat. 1t is
substance which must exist TO a certain ex-
tsot; bpt as IL is muscular power, not pre-
ds2osluon TO siiPOse roturdity, which en-
nauoes the value Of the animal, the reasons
are obvious What guide should be taken in
the selection OF foci
tsv4 OF f)r1e- occesion hinted the pro-
pray Ok aToiSi1G ;hs oats, and I will now
stAtt uIJ TcssoGs for 80 doing The frst will
mention is sconomy. Three bushels Of oats
nh.eo cave undergone that process are equiv
silent 10 four which have not, and the ANNA $
ina, consume them derive greater benefit
Various s'hem"s are adopted to induce horses
to mssicats their corn, all Of which are in.
eiectual. Scattering them thinly over the
surface OF aspacious mauger, mixing hand
ful OF cut straw With each feed, and such Xix Q
devices, viii not cal lie the animal TO the per-
formanos OF mastiontiou. A hUIso that Is dis
posed to bolt his corn, however carefully il
msy be spread along his msnger, will soon
learn TO drive il into heap With his nose
snd collect as much with bis lips as he think
NJ before he begins to mssticate. Whatever
FOOD enters the stomach of any animal. and
passes away in an undigested form, may be
considered as so much dross or extraneou:
matter, which not having afforded nutriment
Is prsjudicial to the creature which consumed
IT. A mistaken notion Of economy is often
the Incentive to turning horses out in sum.
mer, to 10 entirely dependent upon grass for
their support. A few remarks will surely dis
pei that error. Twenty-Five bushels of oats
allowing one hushel per week from the 18th Of
May to the Is h Of October-may be as the
produce Of half an acre Of land, and halt a tor
OF hay that OF another half sore, although q
Ton and half per acre is not more than III
average crop. 1t requires at le1st an acre Of
grass land TO support horse during the pc.
Rod above mentioned. -INIyk Lane Ezprsss