STABLES AS THEY SHOULD BE. 



313 



and then, having washed out the utensil at the pump under the covered 

 way, returns it to the provender-house. This last plan, however, en- 

 tails some trouble; therefore only in exceptional cases should it be 

 adopted. 



As to the supply of liquid, some arrangement is also needed : the 

 bottom of the water trough is level with the surrounding pavement. 

 The supply pipe is commanded by a tap, and all the receptacles can be 

 simultaneously filled by means of the tube that rises above the superior 

 margin of the trough. Below the earth is a conduit, which conveys 

 away the superabundant liquid. Into this tube or drain two smaller 

 pipes empty, both of which arise from the interior of the receptacle. 

 The smallest pipe reaches almost to the topmost edge of the compart- 

 ment, and is simply intended to prevent the possibility of an overflow. 

 The other and the larger tube is inserted into the bottom of the trough, 

 and the removal of a plug, which commands the entrance, permits the 

 contents of the trough to flow through this pipe into the larger conduit 

 below, which empties its contents into the main tubular drain. By 

 turning on the supply, which is derived from a cistern to be hereafter 

 mentioned, and by also opening the waste pipes, all the troughs can at 

 any time be quickly cleansed. 



LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF THE WATER SUPPLY. 



The cistern is situated in the boiler-house, and is elevated several feet 

 above the level of the stable. The boiler-house adjoins the boxes, and 

 from the raised cistern springs the supply pipe, which is carried under 

 ground through the stables. Water, however, will always rise to its 

 jijown level ; this property convinces us that the troughs will be speedily 

 filled whenever the taps are turned. The taps by which the flow is 

 commanded are both placed in the first box, and by this arrangement 

 the animal can receive fresh water four times daily, without fluid being 

 carried to the horse. The contents of the customary pails are too fre- 

 quently spilt by careless grooms. The horse naturally thrives best in a 

 dry abode. Besides, the drink, as in nature, is always before the creat- 

 ure ; for if presented only at stated periods, the draught may be offered 

 when desire does not require liquids ; or it may be withheld when thirst 

 is so powerful as to engender a disinclination for solid nourishment 



