would otherwise be placed between the two carriages, to his great inconvenience or danger. "Gee!" is the word, which makes the horse turn to the right; and "Come hither, woa!" the injunction which draws him towards the left; accompanied, sometimes, by passing the whip lightly over the neck. When hay, or any other heavy load, is placed in a cart, care and judgment are necessary to adjust the weight with respect to a balance, so that it may neither bear nor hang too much; for, if placed too much in front, the stoutest horse might have his back broken by the pressure. On the contrary, if it is placed too much behind, it may even force him up from the ground. The food of horses used for labour is grass, hay, oats, chaff, peas, beans, bran, and sometimes roots, as carrots, and even parsnips. A change and mixture of food is generally beneficial. Wheat, given in any considerable quantity, will kill a horse. The careful and successful farmer is never contented to let the management of his horses go entirely from under his own eye. He enters the stable, and sees that they are not only fed and watered, but well groomed, well littered, and made comfortable and safe for the night; and this he does, even though he may have reason to think his men are themselves proud of their team. I see that thoughtless boy is putting one of our best horses, “Blackbird," into the cart, to go to the mill, although he has cast a shoe. But I cannot expect him to mind his business, if I, by sitting here scribbling, neglect my own. I must go to him; so no more authorship for Farmer Granger till the evening. 96 THE DAIRY AND POULTRY-YARD. Where was I when I laid down my pen, to send the lad to the blacksmith's? I see, I had concluded all that I thought useful to say about our farming horses. We must now say a word or two respecting the dairy and poultry. Our most ancient and now infirm female domestic, Susan, has made, I think, as much butter as would freight a ship; and churned as much milk as would float it. Her powers are not now equal to her will and her skill; a fact, however, of which she is not aware, and which it would offend her grievously to mention. So we make the best of it; and render her what assistance she needs, without hint |