THE JERSEY, ALDERNEY AND GUERNSEY COW. 11/ 



is not durable ; 2d. It absorbs the urine and corrupts 

 the atmosphere of the stable ; and 3d. Because it is 

 always slippery when wet, frequently causing serious 

 accidents to stock. 



The best floor in cow stables is hard brick set on 

 their edges ; after the brick are properly laid mix one 

 part of cement with two parts of sand, adding a suffi- 

 cient quantity of water to make the material so it could 

 be readily poured out of a pail ; this mixture should be 

 poured on the brick and brushed over with an old 

 broom ; the brick will thoroughly join together by the 

 cement, making a water-tight floor on which cattle never 

 slip, and one which will last a long time. The manure 

 drop is made by excavating the earth and laying the 

 brick in cement. The drop is 12 inches wdde by 7 

 inches deep, and is perfectly water-tight. A discharge- 

 pipe may be connected with the drop, leading to a com- 

 post-heap, or a little dry earth may be daily thrown in 

 the drop, which will readily absorb all the liquid man- 

 ure. But not only should the house be kept clean, but 

 it is essential that the animals themselves be so also. 

 It is unnecessary here to describe in detail the influence 

 which the skin has upon the health of an animal ; suffice 

 it to say that it performs most important functions 

 which cannot be performed if the coat of the cow is 

 kept in a filthy condition, filled with dust or coated over 

 with patches of hardened manure ; this condition of body 

 induces the attacks and aggravates the evil effects of 

 lice, etc. All sorts of cures are advocated for this 



