196 THE HORSE. 
a good deal, according to the nature of the lime; but, on the average, a 
bushel will suffice for six or seven of well-washed coarse gravel, which, as 
I said before, may be mixed with half its bulk of bricks, broken into 
pieces not larger than a walnut, and the dust riddled out. An iron 
cistern being provided, such as is used by plasterers and bricklayers, the 
lime is first slacked with water till it is ready to crumble to powder; 
then, measuring each carefully, the respective bulks are put into the 
cistern, carefully mixing them together; after which water is added tili 
it will just cover the surface when fully stirred up; and then the men, 
filling their buckets, throw it with force along the surface to be covered; 
the whole being done in successive layers as quickly as may be. Of 
course, it takes some days to besome hard or “set,” and until then no 
attempt should be made to work upon it. The price of concrete, laid in 
large quantities, varies from 5s. to 8s. per cubic yard, according to the 
price of lime, gravel, and labour. 
6. An arremeT has recently been made to revive the old plan of laying 
an open or perforated wooden floor so as to allow the urine to pass 
through, and thus keep the litter dry. Mr. Haycock, in his “ Gentleman’s 
Stable Manual,” is a strong advocate for this plan, but I cannot say that 
I am impressed with his arguments in its favour. That it may save 
the litter to some extent is clear enough, but it only does so at the 
expense of cleanliness, for as the wood absorbs a great deal of the urine 
in its descent, ammonia is constantly being given off, and the stable is 
never sweet. For this reason these floors were abandoned in the early part 
of the present century, when they were extensively tried, and I should much 
regret their general re-introduction. It may be laid down that no material 
should be used for stable floors which absorbs the urine, but to select one 
which in itself is liable to decomposition is doubly wrong. 
THE poors of stables are generally made of yellow, or, as it is called in 
the midland districts, red deal. Sometimes elm is used, but it is very 
liable to cast or warp. Unless the proprietor is very particular about 
appearances, what is called a “ledge door” is considered sufficient, the 
rails being of utch-and-half stuff, and the boards which are only nailed 
on, from three-quarters of an inch to one inch thick. ‘The ordinary 
thumb-latch is very apt to catch in the skin of the horse as he passes 
through, causing often a severe wound, and on that 
account a sunk catchis preferred which drops into 
a recess made for it in the door-frame, but this is 
not adapted for a ‘‘ledge door,’ a frame at least 
two inches in thickness being necessary to allow . 
of the lock being let in. For loose boxes a door 
may be made with the upper half of open iron work 
as in the annexed engraving, but these are expen- 
sive and can only be adopted when money is not 
considered. In a door of this construction the 
hinges are so arranged that with a rounded edge to 
the frame there is no sharp projection and even 
when wide open the hip of the horse passing through 
cannot possibly be injured. Common ledge doors 
of deal may be hung with ordinary iron hinges 
and thumb latches for about 30s. to 35s. each, 
while framed doors will run up to 5/. and 6J. a-piece. No door should 
be less than three feet six’ inches wide and seven feet high, and the outer 
door is better if made three feet nine or even four feet in the clear, 
