HAY CHAMBER AND ORANARY 221 



is much greater than in a .stall, the droppings of a horse not being deposited 

 in any one place, as in the latter, but scattered all over the surface, and 

 spoiling the litter whereon they may happen to lie. For these reasons 

 loose boxes are not introduced into any stables but those for race-horses, 

 hunters, and in a certain proportion for liacks and carriage-horses. In 

 every largo establishment a small number must be set aside for the sick 

 and lame, but I am now solely discussing their merits as applied to horses 

 doing work. 



HAY CHAMBER AND GRANARY 



In every stable conducted economically, whether in town or country, 

 a space should bo allotted for storing hay, straw, and corn. In London 

 and the large provincial cities and towns, the corn-chandler frequently 

 supiDlies the stable by contract, at a fixed sum per horse, and in that case 

 of course room for a week's consumption only is required ; but, as I shall 

 hereafter show, the plan is an expensive one. At present I shall take this 

 for granted, referring my readers to the next chapter for proof of what 

 I lay down as an admitted fact among horsekeepei's of experience. Hay 

 and straw are either sold by the ton or by the load, which is 2 cwt. 

 less, and on that account the loft should always hold at least a ton of 

 hay, and the same quantity of straw, because if a smaller bulk is pur- 

 chased, it cannot be obtained at the regular market price. Now a ton of 

 hay cut into trusses will nearly occupy the space over an ordinary loose 

 box, supposing that the walls of the loft are not carried up far above the 

 floor, and every additional yard in height of wall allows stowage for 

 another ton. Straw occupies more space by neai^ly one-half, and it may 

 be calculated that a loft formed entirely in a tiled roof of the usual pitch, 

 must have an area equal to two roomy loose boxes, or two stalls and a 

 box, to stow away a ton of hay and a ton of straw, and even then there 

 will be a little space for any other purpose. To find room for a corn- 

 bruiser and chaiT-cutter, as well as for a stock of oats and beans, a granary 

 with an area at least as large as a loose box should be arranged, and with 

 these conveniences a stable may be said to be complete — that is to say, 

 with dry and airy stowage-room, somewhere, amounting altogether to about 

 2000 cubical feet. If the number of horses kept is larger than three or 

 foui', the hay-chamber need not generally be increased to any great extent, 

 because the hay and corn are purchased by the ton or load ; but it is 

 often a great convenience to have accommodation for two or three months 

 provender, and therefore it is always well to be provided with space enough 

 for that jjurpose, if it can bo so arranged. 



With these calculations to guide iiim, the builder has next to 

 consider where he shall fix the stowage-room which I have said will be 

 necessary. Formerly a loft was almost always provided over the stable, 

 in which the provender was kept; but in those days, when high racks 

 were in vogue, a trap-door was left over them to keep them supplied, and 

 the consequence was, that, in the first place, the horses were continually 

 annoyed, and sometimes the eyes injured, with the dust falling through, 

 and, in the second, the hay was injured by the vapour from the stable 



