THE STABLE. 5 



horse's head dunng the thne of feedhigr that he cannot throw- 

 any of them out of the manger.* If a horse is allowed a peck 

 of oats a day, and has, as he may have, one eighth part thus 

 saved, it will amount to nearly a peck in a week. There must 

 not, however, be a diminution in the horse's allowance on this 

 account, if my advice with respect to feeding be followed. This 

 kind of rack and manger, from being boarded up in front, will 

 effectually prevent the litter from being kept constantly under 

 the horse's head and eyes, by which he is compelled to breathe 

 the vapours which arise from it. The length of the halter 

 should be only four feet from the head-stall to the ring through 

 which it passes : this will admit of his lying down with ease, 

 and that is all which is required. The ring should be placed 

 close to that side where the manger is, and not in the centre of 

 the stall. The sides of the stall should be sufficiently high and 

 deep, to prevent horses from biting and kicking each other. In 

 I)ost and waggon stables, where the stall is made for a pair of 

 horses, the manger will be placed at each end, as described in 

 the plate, and the hay-crib in the centre.f 



The window of the stable should be at the south-east end, 

 and the door at the opposite end. The window should be as 

 liigh as the ceiling will admit of, and in size proportioned to that 

 of the stable. In one of twelve feet high, it need not come down 

 more than five feet, and will then be seven feet from the ground, 

 and out of the way of being broken. The frame of the window 

 should be moveable upon a pivot in the centre, and opened by 

 means of a cord running over a pulley in the ceiling, and fas- 

 tened by means of another cord. It is a good jilan to have two 

 doors, or to have the common door dividetl transversely, about 

 four or five feet from the ground: the upper part may then be 

 occasionally left open. Where much light is admitted, the walls 

 of the stable should not be white, but of a stucco or lead colour, 

 and better if painted ; for then they may always be washed clean 

 with soap and water, as well as the stalls, rack, and manger ; 

 and this should be done once in two or three weeks, or a month 

 at furthest. If the walls are boarded up to the height of about 

 five feet, and this, as well as the stalls, painted of a light wainscot 

 colour, it will look extremely neat, and the under part of the 

 wall will be kept drier, and look more comfortable. A stable 

 may be lighted by means of an Argand lamp suspended from 

 the ceiling, and moveable. This will give a far better light, is 

 cheaper, and more secure than any other contrivance whatever, 

 except gas- light, and, if properly trimmed, will burn without a 



* This may be eifected by a cross-bar six or eight inches from each side. 

 — Ed.] 



f Perhaps, on the whole, the best situation for the rack, in ordinary stables, 

 is on a level with the horse's head. — Ed.] 



B 3 



