The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-06-05
Earn, ants GarSttt.
TREATMENT OF FARM HORSES.

| tits the usual practice among far
mers in Il e N orthern States to stable
their horses during the cold season and
let them run to the pasture during the
remainder; the majority feed grain lib
orally when their horses are working
hard, and when idle or doing but little
restrict them to hay or rather fodder
and grass. But with systematic far
ming and the introduction of much ma
chinery which requires the work ofhor-'
ses, is has come to pass that the team is
fully employed on the farm, during
most OF the year when the weather is
suitable for out door labor. AS an ex-
ample, take the, period of harvesting
and haying, which formerly was a rest
ing time for the team, but one of severe
work for the man; now the horse reapS
and mows, rakes and pitches, and his
master guides him. The horse has be-
come daily laborer on the farm, as lie
should be, during the seasons when the
weather permits of out door work. Un-
der these conditions of labor bis treat
ment shoald be changed from that es-
tablished to meet earlier necessities,
and we will offer some suggestions.
In the point of feconomy, it is cheaper
to bring all the food which the horse
consumes to him in the stable, th IN TO
suffer the animal to Craze it from the
turf. Experiments In soiling warrant
the assertion that one-half the area of
land will be required ogrow succulent
food for the horse, that would be need
edto furnish him with good pasture.--
Hence it is cheaper to stable the horses
than to allow him to Craze, and this
we believe to be the proper course, p-o~
vided there is good stable-one that
10 In faA mol ~
ner, warm in winter. 1t may be good
thing to give him short run to pasture
early in the simmer, when the grass is
fresh and before tly-time, but all other
seasons we would prefer the stable to-
the field for feeding purposes. There
he is sheltered from all storms, he is
ready for service at instant call, he ie
not liable to injury by violent running
nor Is he breaking over fences into
your own or your neighors crops. We
grant there is.more trouble in groom
ing, more care in feeding incurred, but
this is more than repaid in the manure
saved, winch on the pasture Is almost
worthless and in the constant readiness
and abilityOt the horse to perform work.
Horse-railroad, Omnibus and other
companies have, by careful experiment
an Investigation, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS is tbs
it consists chiefly of ground grain of
different sorts, with fine cut fodder to.
give it bulk. Their horses undergo Sc
we're labor without cessation, untilthey
are worn oua. or disabled and their plan
OF feeding is a forcing syetem which
the farmers do not want to adopt
The farmer desires his team to remain
strong and sound to good old age,
and he must,feed with this end in view.
He should feed regularly but vary the
quantity and quality, in accordance
with The season and amount of labor
which the team is made to perform
In the winter chafied straw, or hay with
ground corn, and some roots will be
good in spring and summer, when
more labor is performed feed ground
oats, finely cut hay; in warm weather
grass, corn, fodder, green oats, etc.,
should be alternated with dryer and
richer food. Roots are Indispensable.
At all seasons, the horse should be thor
oughly groomed and regularly fed and
watered.-Rt,ral Ne,o Yorker.