228 CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AKD COMPLEIfi STOCK DOCTOR. 



unless it be made of iron and hinged at the back, to let down for clean- 

 ing, in which case a secure catch must be used in front. The top-froni 

 of the manger should be protected with two and a half inch iron bands, 

 rounded at the edges, firmly screwed on, so as to project slightly over 

 the top bi:r. They prevent the manger being gnawed and disfigured. It is 

 also better that a post be placed from the ground to the under-side of the 

 top bar of the manger, and midway from the sides of the stall. In this 

 case a ring may be screwed by the shank, or stapled into the post, in 

 such a way that it may play freely. The tie may have a light weight 

 at the end, so that the bight of the halter will be in no danger of get- 

 ting under the fore legs of the horse. 



VII. The Hay and Straw Loft. 



Every stable should have a loft for hay and for straw, mth chutes, or 

 tubes, for easily throwing it below. The chute for straw may be the 

 tube used for ventilation and, of course, must have a tightly-fitting door 

 to prevent efiluvia from entering the hay loft. The ventilating tube may 

 be used for hay, even if the hay has to be carried from the floor to the 

 manger, but it is better that the hay-chute connect directly with the 

 manger. If a rack is used, the chute should connect therewith. 



TJie floor of the loft should be of tightly-fitting, planed and grooved 

 flooring, to prevent the sifting of seeds and dirt below, and especially to 

 keep the efiftuvia of the stable from rising into the loft. 

 Vni. An Economical Granary. 



The granary of the stable should be in the loft or floor above the 

 stable. This should be a tight room, rat proof, with bins for oats, bran 

 and cut-feed, with chutes from each running to a feed room below, each 

 bin being provided with a proper slide, for giving out or shutting off the 

 grain. The bottom of the bins are better if funnel-shaped, so that the 

 entire contents will run out when necessary. The chutes for grain should 

 be four inches inside. There should also be a room for cut hay and straw, 

 each with its chute, these being not less than twelve inches in diameter, 

 though fifteen is better. Thus it will always be easy to get either cut 

 hay or grain, and it is certainly easier to put the supply at once where it 

 is safe and easily come at, than to take many steps each time you want 

 feed. Besides, it saves grain. 



Below them should be a suitable trough for mixing feed, and also a 

 sieve, with a mesh small enough to save any feed grain, for winnowing 

 and cleaning the grain before feeding. The regular feeding of absolutely 

 clean sfrain has often saved the stable-man the care of serious disorders in 

 his horses. 



