The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-31
some POINTSAS1O
HORSE-FE DIN c

Tho United States government. or
more strictly speaking, the War De-
pRrtinent OF the same has been max
ing study OF how best to feed and
care for army horses. With this end
In View. there were mauy experiments
made at tho Fort Riley School of In
struction the last season. 4 number
OF Virginia Field Artillery officers at
tended this school ~ instructions
among them Major 7. VI. WORKMAN, COM
manding the First Battalion OF Eir-
Binla Field Artillery. Major WOrtham
mas received from Colonel Ell -. Hoylc
commanding the Sixth Field Artillery,
United suites Army. an elaborate report
ot the experiments made in regard To
morse feeding. The conclusions reach
gu ny the army officers may bo inter
estiny to !aymen. and may give many
virginia farmers who have to feed
Gorses Few pointers. Tho report Is
couched In all kinds OF technical terms
tnat laymnn could not understand.
for instance. there is a whole lot OF
c,ik about 'hippoiogy" and ''-,ippo-
phaSy and "equitation." all Of which
means simply horse care and hors.
teed and how to make (, and how to
apply IT. Cutting out all OF these
terms and phrases that lnyinan could
not very well understand Il am sure /
cannot. the conclusions as 10 horse
feeding may DC summed w in tn. fol
lowing plain Enslish:
l. Corn is abuu, Az good food fo,I
horses as oats--it is cheaper THAN oats
ANY ono can tell good corn from moor
"hiie only experts can pass on tile
quality OF oats. The month OF AIsy.
13ll, "aS very warm. but no heating
erect from feeding corn was obaerv-
cd.
2. Alfalfa hay is :, very valuable
FOOD for horses. Ii Is rot Il dangerous
rood as many think. 40 troubles OF
any Kind were noticed among tho
horses fed alfalfa hay. and they rel
ishcd 1t greatly. AS much visor and
stamina We're observed among tho
horses receiving alfalfa hay AS among
others. The explanation OF tho great
value OF alfalfa hay IL tho fact that
IL contains Il lurgc amount OF easily
oigcsted protein. and therefore mny
successfully replace Il part OF the grain
tprotcin) portion of the usual ration
In 'hoso parts Of the United States
where alfalfa grows 10 advantages fl,
10 often the only food given TO horses.
taxing the place OF both grain nnd
hay as ordinarily fed. Alfalfa meal bae
no advantage over alfalfa hay. and be-
sides 10 Troublesome TO feed and trans.
port.
}. Linseed meal to the amount OF,
one poud daily produced excellent re-
suits. Tho horses of the lots rcceiy-
Ing linbced meal were OF fine appear
hncc. had glossy coats. and were as
spirited and lively as any horses I'm the
regiment The horses Of lots II ana
10. which received lInseed meal as
part OF their rations. could be quickly
picked from other horses In the same
corral. on account or their excellent
appearance. Linseed meal contains a
large percentage OF protein and has the
property OF making dlgestible more OF
the nutrients Of foods which arc fed
with 1t than are digcstible X linseod
meal is not fed.
I. Barley apparently gave rs good
results as oats. but as only three
horses were fed barely and the time
OF feeding was short n good compari-
son could not be made
5. While the standard ration of
oats. bran and hay is excellent, other
rations may be fed with confidence
and safety and at a much less cost.