Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-28
English Farmers' HOrses-HOw They
are Fed and Worked.

| AOESSH-AAO" AhNJ
are Fed and Worked.
For the sake of variety in the replies
which l expect will be given to Mr.. L
I. Scott, | will give the universal method
of feeding and managing "cart" horses
in England; ninety-nine farmers out Of
a hundred have but one system, though
the quantity of grain varies according "a
the hard work to be done, and in accord
ance with the "heart' of the farmer.
The horses there are brought into the
stable for nights, and altogether about
the end of September, or during October,
according to the locality. The upland
and hill farmers, having more land under
the pillow and growing more grain, have
more straw and chat and less pasture
land, and put their teams into the stables
early; for it is injurious to the tempO-
rary grassland to Craze at all after the
slightest frost appears, while on the per-
manent old meadows and other perpetual
grassland, the late grazing, or running
Of cattle and sheep on it all winter, does
little harm beyond causing a backward
start in the growth in spring, and where
the ground is tender some rolling or level-
ing has to be done-the native grasses
which constitute the sward of these old
fields standing any amount of treading,
almost with impunity,
When put in the stable, it used to be
the custom to bleed all around the first
Sunday morning after, or on Saturday
evening where there was regard for the
Sabbath; but that is discontinued, and
also spring bleeding, which was as regu
larry done Now, q diuretic dose of med~
icine is given every few days to those
horses swelling at their heels, or some
powders having the same effect, mixed,
in mashes till they become clear. This
is all that is done, unless one or two may
obstinately resist this treatment when
alOes or other physic is given. Nine out
of ten farmers have a regular teamster,
called carter" who is engaged by the
year if single, and if married las most Of
them are), at so much per week for the
year; and the carter has charge Of the
whole of the cart horses, which average
about six or eight The carter has boys
to 20 with the horses to pillow, or aught
else, and to help him in the stable-their
ages being generally from thirtt en to
seventeen years but when, on large
farm, the horses number from eight to
twelve, there is an under-carter, who is
in some measure subject to the head
carter, being generally taken from the
boys; or, as it may be stated, the Oldest
boy becomes under-carter in turn, for
they generally seek better place after
one years experience ofthis kind.
The feeding of these farm horses in
England is totally different from the
manner of doing it here Very little hay
is given there tenant farmers cannot
afford it, because it is cut when the grass
is young, and is so feeding in quality,
from being cured with the sap in IT, that
it is almost wholly eaten by the cows and
oxen fatted for the butcher, and the sheep
which are fattened on turnips have some
too. When wheat, oats or barley, and
peas or beans are winnowed, the chat
IS all carried up to the loft above the
stable and mixed with cut chat, which is
about three-fourths straw and one-fourth
hay; this is all sifted through selves for
the purpose, and put down a hole into
the "chaff box "a capacious place ca
pable of holding 4 hundred or more
bushels, from which the carter (from
half-past four to half past six in the
morning, and from hali~past three to
half,past six in the evening" "baits" his
horses The way in which he proceeds
is to commence with about two doubles
handfuls of chat and half single,hand-
iul of oats, and as fast as this is eaten
up he repeats till they slack eating when
he increases the quantity of oats, and
continues to do so as long as they keep on
eating which will be about the time spec
cited; then at half-past six A NJ, he
gives the whole range OF horses a few
pounds of hay along the rack, which Is
the only time in the twenty-iOur hours
they taste uncuthay; this they eat the
while he gets his own breakfast If
married man and his cottage Is too far
of, he has his eatables with him; and on
most farms some boiled milk is had from
the kitchen and boys and carter soak
some bread in the milk, which does in
stead Of aught cooked otherwise. Little
meat falls to the lot of English labOrers;
the carter may have slice, but the boys
seldom have aught beside the bread
soaked in the hot milk At seven they
20 to the days work, having with them
n their pockets, or a wallet, q bit OF
broad and cheese at noon, if at pillow or
aught else, the horses are not unlocked
from the implement they are using, but
lust sta I'd still for ten minutes or Il quar-
ter Of an hour, while the drivers sit down
and MUNICH the bread and cheese, drink
ing Herewith some table beer, which is
given out TO each man and bow in the
| morning. quart TO each boy and two
quarts to each man ircm the first Of OctO-
Der to the first of May and double that
quantity the rest of the year-each man
and boy finding his own bottle, which is
made Of wood, easily carried about, and
/ will last for ten or more years At half
past three Cor four in seed time) the day
work is over with the horses, and they
are again fed as stated at the stable till
they cease eating, when the coarse slit
| ings from the chaff and the "chafins'
| from the barn are used for "supping up.
| The boys help TO curry the horses and
| get in litter for bedding, after which the
carter gives them any little job which
may be needed to be done by the black
| smith or harness-maker, and they 90
home generally before six, but never
later; he may be some half hour or more
| after that time.
| Horses in this way do q good day 5
| work for the carter is with the boys,
and at blowing he marks out for them,
and everyone has to do his part; there IS
no shutting Most of the plows in the
midland counties have two wheels, one
running in the lurrow, (set about eight
or ten inches forward on the beam,
which makes it easy to turn at land end,
and they run so true, especially the iron
ones, that little holding is required To
make the piow 60 narrower or wider, the
axle Of the larger wheel which goes in
the furrOw, is drawn out or in and screwed
fast, and at the same time the whiiiletrees
moved notch in front. The depth is
regulated by the small wheel on the near
side Of the plow. The carter does this
for the younger boys, and keeps an eye
on all Of them If he should be else
where at work, the farmer rides around
and takes look several times in the day
or if he should be out at market or fair,
the boys seldom shirk their work, be.
cause they know that the next day, when
the master comes around, they will be
found out and either punished or dis.
charged - Country Gentleman