THE STABLE. 361 



an offensive smell or current of air passing through the 

 drains, cheap traps have been invented to stop tlie grating. 

 I have lately seen stables constructed with the patent 

 wooden pavement, which answers many good purposes ; it 

 is much warmer for the feet, and at the same time softer, 

 and entirely free from noise. 



Some persons imagine that the horse should not stand on 

 litter during the day, because the heat which 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 preceding 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 dis- 

 approbation of double-headed stables, that is, having a range 

 of stalls along each wall, with the rear of the horses stand- 

 ing towards each other. It too frequently happens in inns, 

 that for 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 



3 A 



