CHAPTER XII. 



STABLES AND OTBCR SHELTER. 



I. THE ECONOMY OF COMFORT. II. HOW TO BUILU STABLES. III. WHERE TO KEEP 



HARNESS. IV. TEMPERATURE AND VENTILATION. V. THE ARRANGEMENT OF 



STALLS. VI. CONSTRUCTION OF MANGERS AND RACKS. VII. THE HAY AND 



STRAW LOFT. VIII. AN ECONOMICAL GRANARY. IX. THE WAGON AND CAR- 

 RIAGE FLOOR. X. THE HARNESS ROOM. XI. THE STABLE-YARD AND OUT-SHEDS. 



XII. GRASS LOTS NEAR THE STABLE. XIII. A GOOD SUPPLY OF WATER XIV. 



CLEANING THE STABLE. 



I. The Economy of Comfort. 



Ill building a stable, or other structure for housing animals, however 

 rough it may be, the economy of comfort should be as carefully studied 

 as though the building were intended for the family. Even the wealthiest 

 do not always do this. Everything may be elegant and costly, and yet 

 there is often less real comfort and economy, in the arrangement of their 

 stables and barns, than is found in the poor man's buildings which, though 

 rough, may, nevertheless, be arranged with an intelligent aptitude for 

 making a place for everything needed and proper facilities, crude though 

 they be, for doing the work and providing for the comfort of the occu- 

 pants in the easiest but most thorough manner. 



The selection of the site is of importance, since much depends upon 

 this, when drainage and ventilation are considered. A commanding situ- 

 ation is generally selected for the dwelling house, and there is no reason 

 why the next-best location should not be taken for the stable. The horse- 

 stable should, if possible, be a building separate and distinct from the 

 barn. In a suburban place, it need not be entirely hidden from the house. 

 Neither, on the farm, is it proper that it be glaringly exposed to view, to 

 save steps in the morning. In either case the stable may be somewhat 

 hidden by planted trees, but not so much so as to cut off the free circula- 

 tion of air. On the farm, if there is a chance for a bank-basement, 

 breeding-cattle, requiring extra care, may occupy the basement; but 

 never put horses there. Like birds, they require an abundance of air, 

 but must not be exposed to drafts. The stable should be comfortably 

 warm in winter and cool in summer. Attention to this point not only 

 secures economy in feeding, and perfect health, but promotes that pecu- 

 liar luster and softness of the hair, which all the grooming possible can- 

 not give without it. 



II. How to Build Stables. 



The stable floor should not be less than sixteen feet wide. The walls 

 should be at least eight feet high, though nine is better ; and the horses 



224 



