THE STABLE 333 



it produces may prove injurious to the hoof of the 

 horse. I imagine that little injury will result from 

 standing all day on litter, providing it be dry and not 

 so deep as entirely to cover the hoof. It is quite 

 certain that standing on litter must be much more 

 comfortable to the horse than on cold, hard stones, 

 and we therefore recommend its adoption. 



Farmers are in the practice of using the haum of 

 peas, beans, and potatoes, as well as heath. But we 

 would have them to recollect that they must be much 

 oftener changed than straw, as they soon begin to 

 ferment, and consequently the gas emanating from 

 them is noxious ; and besides, the heated litter proves 

 injurious to the feet. We cannot too strongly impress 

 upon farmers and others the great impropriety of 

 allowing an accumulation of litter in their stalls and 

 stables. Some are in the practice of nightly heaping 

 fresh straw or other materials over that of the preced- 

 ing day, instead of having it removed. It is sure to be 

 hurtful to the animal from the reasons we have above 

 stated. 



Before closing this subject, we must state our entire 

 disapprobation of double-headed stables, that is, 

 having a range of stalls along each wall, with the rear 

 of the horses standing towards each other. It too 

 frequently happens in inns that from want of room 

 these stables are so narrow that the hind legs of 

 horses are too near each other, and serious injury is 

 often done by kicking. Many fine horses have been 

 rendered lame for life, and even have had their legs 

 broken, from the kicks of quarrelsome horses. If it is 

 absolutely necessary that such a construction must be 

 adopted, then there ought to be at least a free passage 

 of about eight feet. Every stall should be at least 

 six feet wide, and ought always to be divided by 



