Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-12-29

WATERING HORSES AFTER MEAIs-A
full drink of water. Immediately after be-
inc fed should never be allowed to horses.
When water is drank by them, the bulk of
it goes directly to the large intestines, and
little of it is retained in the stomach. In
passing through the stomach, however,
the water carries considerable quantities
of the contents to where it lodges in the in
testines. If, then. the food is washed out
before it is di~csted. no nouri>hment will
be derived from the feed In Edinburgh
some old horses were fed with split peas.
and then given water Immediately before
being killed. 1t was found that the water
had carried the peas from fiftv to sixty feet
into the intcStines, where no digestion
took place at all. Mr.. Cassie is quite
correct in the views set forth regarding the
injurious effect of large quantities of water
swallowed Immediately after eating. \
small quantity Of fluid swallowed along
with. or Immediately after dry food. bene-
iiciallv softens it, and assists in its division
and digestion. An inordinate supply of
water. or watery fluid. on the other hand
proves injurious. 1t dilutes undulv the
digestive secretions; it mechanically car
rics onward the imperfcctly digested food,
and thus intcrferes with the proper func-
tons of the canal, and excites indigestion
and diarrhna. These untoward effects are
especially apt to occur where horses freely
| fed and too literally watcred. are put to
tolerably quick work. There is no more
iufalliblc method of producing collie. diar-
rhna. and inflammation of the bowels. The
horse is not peculiar in this effect; dogs.
and even their masters. similarly suffer
from cOpious draughts of water immedi-
ate]y after eating much solid food ". T.
| Herald.
COOKED FOOD For CATTLE.-The ques-
ton whether cooking or steaming the ha7
and other food for cattle in the winter is of
sufficient advantage to pay for the labor
cussion for several years. Many have
tried it and as they claim with good results
Others. among whom is Dr. Loring of
it q humbug. But Mr.. L. Breed of Ware.
cooking feed for cows which is simple, in
expensive and has proved successful. Mr..
Breed cuts the hay for his COWS in quantity
sufficient for one feeding. and places the
mess for each. including grain. in a half
! ''i ioi' 'iilNi .tit'i i'otI DplllHS water
over it covers the tub tight and leaves it to
soak and soften till the time for the next
| feeding. He uses nearly a pailful of wa
ter for the feed of each COW. and for sew
eral months during the winter season his
COWS have no water, except what is given
them in their feed, and for weeks together
they remain all the time in their stalls.
The barn, and especially the stable. is
made rs tight and warm rs practicable,
and hi, small herd Of COWS cause very
little trouble, ana yield him liberal re-
turns.
GROOMING IIOHsEs.-IIorses she'd their
coats twice a year-in the spring and fall
During this period, which is attended by
more or less debility, they should have in
creased care. have their work lightensd
and he groomed every day to remove the
effete hair and promote circulation. When
perspirat!on is allowed to dry upon horse
there is 4 salty re>idnum which attracts
moisture and materially lowers the tenn
perature Of the confined ar next to the
animals skin. The damp feeling of an
old brush or u curry coub. on the APP
proach of wet weather. is conclusive on
this point. Therefore daily grooming will
tend to keep a horse dryer and warmer.