The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-02-22
FARM AND GARDEN.

Foop AND CARE OF HoRsEs.-We
have personal interest in horse flesh.
We have furnished feed for them, and
attended to their wants personally, and
claim that we know something about
them. This is what we have found
that with proper care and regularity of
feeding, and proper preparation of the
food, nearly one-half may be saved.
Ordinarily, it requires fifteen pounds
of grain, and from Is to 20 pounds OF
good hay, or its equivalent in other long
feed, to keep a horse weighing 1000
pounds in thrifty condition. If, how
ever, the long feed is cut up fine, and
the grain ground and mixed with it.,
very little over half this amount will be
equally efficacious in keeping the horse
in condition; this we know from actual
experiment. We have experimental
with different kinds of provender, and
believe that properly cured corn stalks
with the fodder on, prepared as above,
is far the cheapest food obtainable in
Eastern Virginia. As grain food, we
have found a mixture of two parts
wheat shorts, and one of corn meal, eco
nomical and excellent every way. Oat
meal, when obtainable, is good. Next
to grinding, the following method of
preparing oats has proved most satisfac-
tory with US. The food for morning is
prepared at night, by pouring sufficient
hot water over it to cover it in the yes-
sci; then set it in warm place until
morning. When this is fed, prepare the
mess for night in the same way. We
never feed our horses more than twice
day in winter, but give them large
provender at night, and more grain in
the morning. In the summer we feed
and allow an hour or two rest at noon.
We like a great deal Of brushing, and
very little currying at any time, especi-
ally in winter. Except for the removal
of hard dirt, we would never use cur
ry-comb. A stiff brush is much better.
We don't believe in blanketing horses,
except when they are stopped in the
cold after being heated into perspira-
ton. A blanket thrown over them
then to prevent their cooling off too
suddenly is an advantage. Stables
should be comfortable, light and free
from cold draughts. The ceiling should
be at least eight feet high, and the ven-
tilation should always be at the top,
and if possible at the end farthest from
the horses. If the inside is lime wash
ed, it should not be left perfectly white,
as the glare Injuries the eye. A little
lamp-black will bring down the color
to a softer shade, though it must be
confessed that dead white looks neater
With regars to labor, we generally man
age to keep our team moving eight or
ten hours day, and we keep them fat
barring the epizootic). We never work
in the rain or falling snow, if we can
avoid it. We live among the farmers,
are one of them, poor in common with
the land owners of the South, and we
know whereof we affirm when we say,
the reason there are so many poor horses
and mules is not for want of sufficient
food; but because the food is given in
slovenly manner, and the horses arc
insuficiently sheltered; compelled fire.
quently to stand half knee deep in a
freezing mass or filth in an open stable,
exposed to the cold winds of winter
through the long cheerless days and
nights of the entire season.
1t is because the owners fail to give
the proper attention to the comfort of
the animals committed to their care,
that so many valuable animals die from
poverty every winter and spring. =
Southern Planter and Farmer.