ON THE STABLES, ETC. 53 



tliem over, that he is not so readily awakened out of a 

 sound sleep in the night, when sleeping over the sta- 

 bles. I have, when a boy, on getting up in the morn- 

 ing (I may say between sleeping and waking), often 

 promised myself the gratification of sleeping between 

 stable hours in the day time; but when that period of 

 recreation arrived, like the rest of my companions, I 

 have allowed my little pleasures and amusements to 

 take place of my rest. 



But to return. The floors of the stables should be 

 made of large flat paving stones, or bricks, as the 

 architect shall think best. Each stable floor should be 

 perfectly flat, with the exception of the least possible 

 declivity in each horse's stall, and in that part of each 

 loose box on which the horse stands at the time of his 

 feeding. 



If the broad flat paving stones should be preferred, 

 they must all of them be fluted, so as to give them a 

 rough surface, to prevent the horses from slipping 

 when going in or out. For the sake of cleanliness, a 

 certain portion of the stable walls should be wain- 

 scoted; and the wainscotting which covers the part in 

 front of the horse's head, should be carried from the 

 top edge of the manger, to the top part of the stall. 

 If this wood-work were continued a foot higher, it 

 would probably look much better. The wainscotting 

 against the side walls, forming one side of the stall, 

 should correspond in appearance with the wood-work 

 which separates the stalls from each other. At the 

 end of these side stalls, close to the oak stall-post, the 



