STABLES AND OTHER SHELTER. 



229 



The cut of stalls we give, and those we have described, are the very 

 best that can be made. It does not follow, however, that they must be 

 made in a costly manner, as wi-itten. The good sense of any intelligent 

 farmer may so modify them, that while they are strong, a large outlay 

 need not be made, and yet the principles of utility may be retained. It 

 is the same here as with building. The cheap structure, if strong and 

 economical in the design, may be fully as safe and comfortable as the 

 most expensive. A thing well done is economically done. Illy done it 

 causes waste and loss. If you have no lumber, poles and puncheons, 

 carefully smoothed, answer every purpose. If you are not an adept at 

 framing and must do your own work, strong stakes set in a pretty deep 

 trench, or driven solid, and quite close together, evened at the top, and a 

 cross-piece nailed securely on the top will serve as a manger. The rack 

 may be made of two poles, bored half through with a two inch auger at 



A CONTRIVANCE TO BREAK A HORSE OF THE HABIT OF KICKING IN THE STALL. 



the bottom, and clear through the top piece, with an inch and a half 

 auger, to receive the slats, which maybe straight saplings, properly shaved. 

 So, the rear posts may be young trees, six inches in diameter, properly 

 dressed. Thus any inside fixture may be easily arranged, and at light 

 cost by any one ordinarily handy with axe, saw, drawhig knife and ham- 

 mer, as every farmer should be. The device for kicking horses shown, 

 is the one in common use. It is illustrated to show how faulty it is. A 

 far more sensible plan for a kicking horse, if you are so unfortunate as to 

 have one, is to replace the log with a good compact bunch of osage oratijre 

 brush. This will punish without injuring the horse. 



