MANGERS. 9 



of heat. I here take for granted that the free circula- 

 tion of air is not interfered with. 



On 1 all occasions, when the stables are empty, they 

 should be thrown open for the admittance of sun-light, 

 which is a powerful disinfectant. 



Mangers. Many years ago, Professor Coleman direct- 

 ed, and I think with reason, that the feeding trough should 

 be placed on the ground, as that arrangement makes 

 the horse assume the natural position in which he was 

 intended to feed. I advocate this practice, because it 

 obliges the animal to eat much slower than he would 

 do, were the manger in the us,ual position ; hence he will 

 masticate his food more thoroughly. In' order to carry 

 out this principle still further, I would advise that a 

 broad feeding-box be used, in which the grain should be 

 spread in a comparatively thin layer. Some horses, from 

 infirmity, &c., will require the manger to be slightly 

 raised, say, a foot from the ground. 



Picketing horses. Head and heel-ropes are admissible 

 only with animals like those in the Artillery and 

 Cavalry that may be called upon to camp out at any 

 time. In such cases, if there be any probability of rain, 

 great care should be taken to render the pegs secure, for, 

 if a shower falls, it will both render the horses fidgetty, 

 and will loosen the hold the pegs have in the ground. 



Natives, when they use head and heel-ropes, are very 

 prone to tie up the horses far too tightly. 



Horses should never be picketed by a fore-leg, for 

 then they will be very apt to screw themselves by 

 straining at the rope, in the event of being startled, 

 or when jumping about in play. 



