Litter. 233 



But, all proprietors of Horses, howsoever they may be circumstanced 

 in this respect, will find it uniformly their interest, rather to encourage 

 the putrefactive fermentation of the litter out of doors, thanin their sta- 

 bles ; which, judging' from the pungency of the atmosphere and tlieheat 

 of too many, one would imagine was the object meant to be obtained. 

 At those times and in those places, however, where the value of straw 

 becomes great, as food for Cattle, the dried haulm or potatoe-top may 

 be substituted for it, as litter, and has been recommended for this pur- 

 pose, on the highly respectable authority of Mr, Curwen, in his excel- 

 lent treatise o« the economy of feeding stock. But, though there can 

 be no doubt that the haulm would be a very good substitute for straw, 

 yet, the use of it as litter, would require still greater circumspection as 

 to the cleanliness and ventilation of stables ; for, as it contains a 

 great deal more fermentable matter than straw, so, there can be no 

 doubt, that it would be the means of diffusing more heat and Volatile 

 Alkali in the atmosphere. A few individuals are so peculiarly cir- 

 cumstanced, that they might be able to find a supply of saw-dust for 

 their stables, which would make excellent litter, especially that 

 produced from the different species of firs, which would resist putre- 

 faction very strongly, on account of the turpentine which they con- 

 tain, in a few districts, heath might be obtained and would serve the 

 purpose of litter. In some of the southern parts of Europe, they use 

 sand, for their Horses and mules to lie on, and there are many parts of 

 G;eat Britain and Ireland, where the same practice might be had 

 recourse to with advantage, during the hot months of the year. How- 

 ever, notwithstanding the inimical effects which Utter has upon the 

 feealtti ©f Horses, when composed of the ordinary materials, and raa- 

 aaged in 'the usual way, it must, nevenheless, be admitted, that a con- 



