STABLE IMPLEMENTS. 219 
Jast. Few grooms, however, will carry out economical principles to this 
extent without the constant interference of the master, and if the experi- 
ment is tried it should be really ascertained that the alternate periods of 
use and renovation are rigidly adhered to. In ordinary stables one large 
piece of sponge about eight or nine inches square when wetted, another 
five or six inches square, and a still smaller piece, will be sufficient. 
THE MANURE BASKET is either of the ordinary brown willow work, or it 
is made, where willows are scarce, of split wood, interlaced on the same 
principle. No good stableman should be unprovided with this accessory, 
which enables him to save litter, and also to keep his horse clean and 
comfortable. 
THE STOPPING BOX is an oblong box of oak or elm about fifteen to 
eighteen inches long, nine wide, and six deep. ‘This is filled with fresh 
cowdung, mixed with an equal quantity of clay, to which some stablemen 
add one-fourth or less of pitch ointment, but the dung is the essential 
ingredient, its use consisting in its great tendency to keep moist and also 
to moisten the surface to which it is applied. This is so great that a 
thin sole or a fungous frog may be readily made to waste away by decom- 
position if the stopping is applied constantly to them. As much 
harm is often done by overdoing the stopping as by omitting to use it 
altogether. 
Leatuers are used of the full size sold in the shops, to finally dress 
aver the coat of the horse, and also to wipe the saddlery. Like the 
sponge they form an expensive item in the accounts of the groom. 
RUBBERS OR DUSTERS, as they are sometimes called, are made of coarse 
linen, which should be twilled if economy is studied. Calico does not 
answer the purpose. From six to twelve rubbers, each about two feet 
square, will be wanted, the number depending upon the extent of 
the stable. 
Two Buckets at the least must be provided for each groom, one being 
kept for clean water, and the other for washing legs and feet, dirty 
saddlery, &c. None but well-made oak buckets should be admitted inte 
any stable. 
THE CORN SIEVE is employed to get rid of the dust, which all corn con- 
tains, more or less, and also to expose a large surface of it, so that any 
stones in it may be readily discovered. One only is wanted in each stable, 
the head-groom alone being entrusted with the feeding of the horses. 
A QUARTERN AND A HALF-QUARTERN MEASURE Will be indispensable, 
both being wanted for oats, and the latter for beans. 
TRIMMING SCISSORS are necessary, with straight as well as curved blades, 
to keep down those hairs which cannot be got rid of by pulling; as, for 
example, a few of the strongest in each fetlock. They should never be 
used where the hand, aided by powdered resin, is able to draw the 
hair out. 
A SINGEING LAMP, to be used either with naphtha or gas, should form a 
part of every list of stable implements ; for even if the groom is not com- 
petent to singe the body of the horse, he should, at all events, use it 
occasionally to keep down the long and loose hairs which keep growing 
about the jaws, neck, quarters, and legs. Ifa horse is singed ever so well 
in October, and even if the operation is repeated in November, he will be 
rough to the eye in the following month, and in January he will be quite 
unfit for a gentleman’s use. Any groom, however, who has the slightest 
skill in the use of his hands, ean avoid this by skimming over these parts 
with the lamp; and, indeed, most head-grooms in the present day are 
