To a hard-working horse, a good bed is almost is essential as food. Many stablemen can not make it. I* should be as level and equal as a mattress. There should be no lumps in the litter; it should come well back, and slope from each side, and from the head toward the centre farm-servants and carters never give the horse a good bed, although their horses need it fully as much as any other. They generally have the litter all in a heap, or in a number of heaps, upon which the horse can not lie comfortable for more than half an hour. The effort such a bulky animal must make to rise and change his position, completely awakens him. His rest is broken, and his vigor never fairly recruited. Now, it is not difficult to make a good bed; any body with hands may learn it in a few days. But no one thinks of learning such a thing. Those who become expert at it can not help their expertness. They never tried to obtain it; practice gave it them before they knew it was of any use. But for all this it may be learned. Show the man how to use the fork, and how to spread the litter; give him a pattern-bed in one stall, and make him work in the next, two hours every day for a week.

If he can not learn it in this time - the operation is really worth such trouble- -the man will never learn anything.

The bed is generally composed of wheat straw; but there are several other articles which are used occasionally, and might be used oftener. Saw-dust, wood-shavings, dried tanner's bark, and leaves, have been employed where they are easily and cheaply procured. They are not better than straw, nor so good; but a very good bed may be made out of either of them. In some Eastern countries the dung, after being dried in the sun, is used as bedding; it is finer than saw-dust.

Oat straw is softer, but not better than that of wheat. Tthe straw of beans or peas never makes a good bed. I believe these straws might be employed more profitably as fodder, and on some farms they are. In some places it is usual to cut the bundle of straw across into two with a hay-knife. It spreads better, and a saving is made, for long straws are often wasted at only one end.

Some people give the horse no bedding, or almost none. Whether they have ever been able to show that he prefers lying on the stones, I have not heard. But it is well enough known that the want of Utter prevents repose, and blemishes the knees, the hocks, and the haunches.