The Goat-house. 109 



the manger, thus causing- an almost imperceptible current 

 of fresh air to be admitted. " Hit and Miss " ventilators 

 may, however, be used where expense is no object. 



A good-sized door about 2|ft. wide running up to the 

 roof will be required. The best are those which are 

 known as half-doors, so that in fine weather the top door 

 can be left open when the other is shut. A window is 

 also necessary to admit light and air. One that opens 

 by turning on a pivot in the centre will be found as cheap 

 as any in construction, besides being easily opened and 

 shut. 



For the floor the best material is concrete ; it is cheaper 

 than bricks, and, being of a hard and smooth surface, is 

 easier to clean. Care must be taken when laying it down 

 to allow full time for the cement to set before it is trodden 

 on ; about twelve hours is sufficient for this as a rule, but 

 in a damp place it will take two or three days before it 

 becomes thoroughly dry and hard throughout. The floor 

 must be raised about 2 Jin. from the level of the ground 

 outside, to prevent the wet from entering under the door ; 

 it should also slope gradually from the manger to the 

 entrance : this will be found of great assistance when 

 flushing it with water, which requires to be done occa- 

 sionally in summer. A small quantity of some disinfectant 

 mixed with the water for flushing is valuable in deodoris- 

 ing and purifying the place. 



If only one goat is kept, it may be allowed to run 

 loose in its house, and a good plan then is to fix a bench 

 against the wall about two or three feet from the ground. 

 It will prefer this to lie on to any quantity of straw or 

 other bedding placed for it upon the floor, and it is indeed 

 healthier, especially if the floor is of a damp nature. 

 Instead of providing a manger or trough to receive its 

 food, it is better to have a plain board, nin. wide and 

 i in. thick, in which two circular holes are cut sufficiently 



