50 THE PRACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



way as to prevent rain from entering them, though not hinder- 

 ing the escape of hot air. In double stables where the horses 

 stand tail to tail, the same principle has been applied, but the 

 inlets are carried from the outer wall under the stalls, dis- 

 charging the air in the centre of the passage or gangway, 

 both the front and rear walls being provided with exhaust or 

 escape shafts. 



If the windows in the stable are properly constructed and 

 well placed, they greatly assist the ventilation, though they 

 most frequently cause draughts, whether they are above the 

 horses' heads or at the ends of the stable ; while in bad weather 

 they have to be closed. Indeed, it only too often happens 

 that the horse keepers will insist upon keeping them closed in 

 all weathers, and as the ventilation should be, to some extent, 

 at least, independent of these men and of accident, it ought 

 to be. self-acting and beyond reach of interference. Therefore, 

 if the outlet or air-escape shafts cannot be contrived as above 

 indicated, a course of perforated bricks, or a row of perforated 

 plates, should be introduced close to the ceiling, and on both 

 sides of the stable, if thought advisable, so as to allow the hot 

 air a ready exit. 



When the loft above is intended for the reception of 

 forage, there should be no communication between it and the 

 stable, whereby the air from the latter may taint the food. 



Where there is no loft, or stories above, then the air- 

 escape can readily be secured by the open roof, either by a 

 narrow, capped slit running the whole length of the ridge, by 

 louvre boards, or by roof-windows, which can be made to open 

 and shut. The ridge arrangement is good, as it is constant ; 

 the louvre boards, whether continuous or detached at intervals 

 (the continuous are best), are also good ; while the roof- 

 windows are objectionable for several reasons. 



The louvre boards are generally recommended, and, if 

 continuous, should be about 18 inches in depth in a stable 



