Year: 1860

HoRsEs-PRoPER CARE.-Ths horse ia one of the most valuable servants of the farmer, His health and comfort, and consequent ability to labor, are worthy of particular attention Good stabes-waim, light and well ventilated-go far to pro- mote this end. Proper care and cleanli- ness, and regularity in feeding, are also necessary. Hay and oats are the best and most readily available food for the horse, and are mainly depended upon for this purpose. Other grains and fodder, also roots and fruit, may some times be employed to advantage. Straw, cut or chopped, and meal of rye, corn or barley, or mixture of these wet and mixed with straw are frequently used with fair re- sulis. They furnisha cheaper food for horses when hay is very costly in perception to grains, as is sometimes the case Carrott are thebest roots for horse feed, and are thOughtto he great service in promoting the health and keeping the appetite. As a steady food for the horses hay and oats are the best, unless particular care with other food is given to their feeding asd management by one skilled in the business. So those who employ hay and, we would commend an occasional change from oats to carrots, apples, etc, as such will be relished by the animal, and promote his health and power to labor. Instead of grain twice or three times day, give one feeding of them, and try sometimes feed of cut hay or straw and meal, for animals like to change from one kind of food to another as well as human beings.

 in lo If l,hn If .al- ing and of rest, are always desirable. Plenty of pure water should be supplied at least twice a day, and it would be of service to the horse could it be brought to a lower temperature than merely below the freezing point When brought in from work, warm exertion. the horse should be rubbed down and then blanketed; but we |. would not blanket horse in good stable, as general rule, except in extreme ly cold weather When standing out of doors, while in harness, horses should be blanketed, and given place sheltered from the wind, if possible; many horses are ruined from negligence in this respect.

 In the care of horses. few farther points may be hinted upon. A sharp | toothed currycomb is the dread of fine Sklnneu horse, ana tlic UluhH anu StldV wiSp will answer tine same purpose much better. if used as frequently as they should be. Mud should never be allowed to dry upon the legs of horse; it Is the cause of half the swelled legs, scratches and other affections of the feet with which horses are afflicted. Want of air, light and cleanh- ness; poor hay and insufficient or indiges- tible food, are fruitful sources of diseases and proper attention to these points will be of far greater service iii restoring and keeping up health and vigor than the thousand and one medical nostrums so often relied upon. Propotion the food, in amount and character, to the nature of the service required, and your team will not fail you, but will keep in uniform order. and be ready in the spring for the steady work then called for and so important to the prosperity of the farmer.

 These hints are intended to apply mainly to working horses-to those kept upon the farm for the ordinary purposes of the same.

 Colts and horses not in use will not require the same amount of care, but their comfort and thrift should receive careful attention as their future value depends largely upon the foundation now laid.- Country Gentlemen.