STABLES AS THEY SHOULD BE. 



31t 



building ; it extends twelve feet beyond the last loose box. Its interior 

 is divided into three rooms, each twelve feet square, and all separated 

 by brick walls. Entrance to these apartments is gained through three 

 doors, the upper parts of which, being glazed, will also serve the purposes 

 of windows. 



ELEVATION OP THE NORTHERN END, OR BACK OF THE STABLE. 



The center division is sacred to the harness : it is kept' warm by means 

 which will be hereafter described. The trappings of the horse are too 

 perishable and too costly to be housed within the stable. Damp, dust, 

 and ammoniacal fumes are all injurious to this expensive article. Damp 

 cannot but be present in the abode of animal life ; the breath, insensible 

 perspiration, evaporation from the water-troughs, washing of the pave- 

 ment, hoofs, etc. are the common sources of the supply. The dust is 

 occasioned by the spreading of the litter, the movement of the grooms 

 and of the animals, as well as by many causes of motion, which can 

 never occur without sending the finer particles of decaying matter fly- 

 ing from the various substances which are strewn about. Ammoniacal 

 fumes are also generated by the decomposition of the equine excretions ; 

 however carefully the interior may be drained, or however pure the 

 atmosphere may seem to human sense, this gas must more or less exist 

 in every stable. Such taints, besides damaging the substances, also 

 necessitate extra cleansing; though moderate attention is preservative 

 in its nature, anything approaching to excessive labor not only destroys 

 the fresh aspect of the harness, but is provocative of its speedy annihila- 

 tion. 



Within the harness-room all the clothes (after being dried and aired) 

 are to be placed, and in this apartment every piece of harness (subse- 

 quent to being cleansed) should be stored ; it is there hung upon appro- 

 priate fixtures and kept ready for instant use, being protected by thick 

 curtains, which are made to fall over and to cover the several pieces. 



On the left of the spectator, looking toward the building, is another 

 room, which acts the part of a hay-loft. Within twelve feet square is 

 stored all the provender and the litter immediately required for the 



