OF SCOTLAND.

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wath already mentioned, work them at the harrows in thefollowing spring when below two years old, put them tothe plough next winter at the age of two years and a half,and continue to work them gently till they are five yearsold, when they are sold again at the Rutherglen and Glas-gow markets, at a great advance of price, to dealers andfarmers from the south-eastern counties. A considerablenumber of horses, however, are now bred in the Lothians,Berwickshire and Roxburghshire, the very high prices oflate having rendered it profitable to breed them, even uponvery good arable land. But many farmers of these counties,instead of breeding, still prefer purchasing two and a half, orthree and a half year-old colts at the markets in the westcountry, or at Newcastle fair in the month of October. Theybuy in a certain number yearly, and sell an equal number oftheir work-horses before they are so old as to lose much oftheir value, so that their stock is kept up without any otherloss than such as arises from accidents; and the greater pricethat is often received for the horses they sell, is sometimessufficient to cover any such loss.

4. During the first winter, foals are fed on hay with a fit-tie corn, but should not be constantly confined to the stable;for even when there is nothing to be got on the fields, it ismuch in their favour to be allowed exercise out of doors.A considerable proportion of succulent food, such as pota-toes, carrots, and Swedish turnips, (oil-cake has been recom-mended), should be given them through the first winter;and bean and peas-meal has been advantageously substitu-ted for oats, which, if allowed in a considerable quantity, areinjurious to the thriving of the young animal, from theirheating and astringent nature. Their pasture, during thefollowing summer, depends upon the circumstances of thefarms on which they are reared. In the second winter theyare fed in much the same manner as in the first, except thatstraw may be given for some months instead of hay; and inthe third winter they have a greater allowance of corn, as