TKAIKIHG-STABLE. 131 



house to the north-east, and under their shelter. There 

 is a little knoll there that will give perfect drainage, and 

 the track will approach within one hundred yards. Twenty 

 stalls will be as many as we will need for a time, and the 

 form is such that they can be added, without detriment to 

 comfort or appearance. 



I have drawn a rough sketch of the ground floor, which 

 will aid me in making my ideas intelligible. The whole 

 area enclosed is sixty by a hundred feet. Of this space 

 ten feet in width is taken up for a walk, the benefits of 

 which will readily be seen. By having this walk sheltered 

 from storms we never miss the advantage of having the 

 horses exercised, no matter how bad the weather is ; and 

 in this northern latitude, by having it well littered with 

 straw, we can gain a month in preparing the horses, 

 equalizing our chance in the spring races with those living 

 farther South. The outer wall is so arranged that there 

 are large openings to both doors and windows; hence, 

 when the weather requires it, there can be as free a circu- 

 lation of air as if entirely open. The height of this story 

 is ten feet, with the same distance to the plate, making 

 the post twenty feet high. There is a double row of box 

 stalls, with an alley between twelve feet wide ; each stall 

 is 8x14 feet, sealed with matched boards, presenting 

 a uniform smooth surface. Well seasoned black walnut 

 is the material used, which can be got in this section of 

 Iowa nearly as cheap as pine. There are two doors in 

 each stall, one opening to the walk, the other to the alley. 

 There are openings for ventilation at the top of the stall, 

 with others at the base to pass off the heavy, impure 

 air, that otherwise would not escape when the door is 

 closed. The feed boxes are arranged in one corner of 

 the stall, sliding through a place cut in the wall, and 

 when not in use are left projecting into the alley. The 

 hay is fed by placing it on the straw forming the bedding, 



