The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-05-09
TOPICS FOR THE FARM.

Horse Feed,-Every good groom, says
the London Stock Journal, knows that
sound oats and beans and peas in due
proportion, and at least a year old, are
the very best food for a galloping horse
only food on which it is possible
to get the best condition out of a race
horse or a hunter. 1t has also recently
become known that horses do slow work
and get fat, indeed too fat, on maize,
Indian corn, which is frequently one
third cheaper than the best oats. In the
East, horses are fed on barley, and it is
a popular idea with English officers who
have lived in Persia and Syria that the
change of food from barley to oats,
often, when imported, produces blind
ness in Arabian horses. Now, although
no men understand better OF so well how
to get blood horses into galloping condi-
ton as English grooms, they do not, and
few of their masters do, know the eason
why oats and beans are the best food
for puttipg-muscular flesh on a horse.
The agricultural chemist steps in here,
makes the matter very plain, and shows
that if you want pace, Indian corn, al
though nominally cheaper, is not cheap
at ali. When we feed a bullock, a sheep
or a pig for sale, after it has passed the
store stage, we want to make it fat as
quickly as possible; but with a horse for
work the object is, give him muscle
in common language, hard flesh. There
are times when it is profitable to make a
horse fat, as for instance, when he is
going up for sale. For this purpose an
addition of about;a pound and a half
oil cake to his ordinary food has a. good
effect. 1t is especially useful when q
horse that has been closely clipped or
singed is in a low condition. 1t helps on
the new coat by making him fat. A horse
in low condition changes his coat very
slowly.
When from any cause there is
difficulty in getting a supply of the best
oats, an excellent mixture may be made
of crushed maize and beans, in proper
ton to two-thirds of maize and one oil
beans, which exactly afford the proper.
tions of fesh-formipg and fat-forming
food. Bran is very valuable food in a
stable for reducing the infammatory
effects of bats and beans. Made into
mashes it has a cooling and laxative
effect, but used in excess, especially in q
drystate, it is apt to form stony secre
tions in the bowels of the horse. Stones
produced from the excessive use Of
bran, have been taken out of horses
after death weighing many pounds.
Summer Beyerages.-July and Au
gust are trying months with farmers
and other outdoor laborers. How besf
to retain health and strength for ano
during the severe labors Of the harvest
is an important question, and one Otter
discussed at this, season. What it is besr
to drink to allay thirst is a matter O.
vital interest, but upon which doctors
as well as other people and the agricul
tural papers are prone to disagree. On,
authority before us-the Scientific Far
mer-yery pertinently says that Hhealtl
in July is a serious matter. People
frequently injure it by excessive drink
ing of even SO mild a beverage as colo
water; especially SO with the farmer il
the hay field. Much liquid greatl,
weakens ones strength by causing undue
perspiration, which as much as breath
ing takes the forces of the body to per
form. An occasional drink does no
harm, when actually t~fsrstyabut drink
ing at meal-time is preferable. ColC
water is not the best drink for a holiday
a little oatmeal stirred in will improv,
it, or some ginger and molasses. Cole
tea or coffee are healthful and pleasan
drinks. Either of them is much bette
than cold water"