72 THE FAMILY HORSE. 



afterwards galloped, to benefit his wind, and sweat off the super- 

 fluous flesh. If the horse has been running at grass with others, it 

 would be as well to place him in a stable where he will have com- 

 pany, if convenient. Horses are fond of company, and bear separa- 

 tion badly. I have known horses that have been taken up from 

 others with which they have associated a considerable time, grow 

 as thin as a rake, and all attempts have failed to get them into con- 

 dition, until a companion was introduced to keep them company." 



DISPOSAL OF MANURE. 



The proper management of the solid and liquid manures is a 

 matter of much importance. With city residents the only question 

 involved is to keep it cleared away as promptly as possible. Its re- 

 moval is provided for in most of the large cities by the health author- 

 ities. But horse keepers in villages and suburban places usually 

 have gardens, and the manure, instead of being mere offal to be got 

 rid of, possesses much practical value. In such situations provision 

 should be made for storing it where it will be kept from excessive 

 and destructive fermentation, and so far from the stable that the 

 offensive odors and gases from the mass will not penetrate it. The 

 manure should also be kept under cover, or its most valuable ele- 

 ments will leach away. A very good arrangement for disposing of 

 manure in a manner which will render it wholly inoffensive, while 

 preserving all its fertilizing properties, is a plank box ten feet long, 

 six feet wide and two feet deep. This is thoroughly coated with hot 

 coal-tar inside and out, and sunk two-thirds its depth into the 

 ground. If in the open air a cover the full size of the top is hinged 

 to it. For convenience of handling this may be in halves length- 

 wise and each half hinged to its own side of the box, the ends of 

 which are a foot the highest in the center, hke the gable end of a 

 building, so that the covers will shed water. If the manure pit is 

 under a shed no cover will be needed. In such a situation the pit 

 may be excavated as deeply as desired in the ground, and lined with 

 cement mortar, instead of wood. The drain from behind the stalls 

 may be arranged to empty into the manure pit. As the manure is 

 thrown in, layers of swamp muck or other absorbent, may be alter- 

 nated every three or four inches. In the absence of any suitable 

 material, the fresh manure, as it is thrown in, may be freely sprinkled 

 with land plaster. 



The manure from a cow-stable or pig-pen, when there are such 

 on the premises, may be mixed with the stable manure, with advan- 

 tage to all. The first named are cold and slow, and tend to check 

 the excessive heat and fermentation of the horse manure. 



