THE HORSE-KEEPER S GUIDE. 281 



freestone ; in other places, hard small bricks, aiTanged on 

 edge, are employed. Both are good, and each has its pe- 

 f'.uliar advantages : the brick floor affords a firm foothold, 

 and is easily kept clean ; but it is not so durable as the 

 pavement. — The stone is more lasting ; but it is apt to get 

 glazed, and then the horses are likely to slip about, and 

 may break a leg or slip the shoulder. Deeply-cut grooves 

 may prevent this. Floors paved with small stones, after the 

 manner of a causeway, are objectionable, unless the foun- 

 dation be made of grouting, and the stones laid in the 

 same; otherwise, the spaces between the stones receive 

 and retain the urine, and return it again by evaporation ; 

 hence the stable is never sweet and seldom dry ; and damp 

 stables are very injurious. Floorings made of asphalte, 

 or other bitumenous concrete, on grouted foundation, are 

 very good ; they aflbrd a good dry footing, and are easily 

 kept clean. 



A very recent addition to the material previously em- 

 ploved for flooring of stables, has been furnished ; this is 

 cautchouc, or India-rubber. How far this may prove use- 

 ful, has yet to be seen ; its introduction has been too recent 

 to warrant any very decided opinion upon its merits ; but 

 judginfT-from analogy, we consider ourselves justified in 

 saying that it bids fair to succeed, and should it do so, there 

 can be little d<jubt of its superseding all other descriptions 

 of floorings in the stables of the wealthy. 



Ecpial in importance with the flooring of the stable, is 

 its drainage : one of the most effectual ways of procuring 

 this, is to make a drain, the whole length of the stable; 

 and have a gutter leading to a grating placed at either or 

 both ends : the flooring of the stalls should have a slight 

 inclination, so that the urine, &c. may drain (n- run into the 

 crutter, and be conveyed thence into the drain. The end 

 of the drain should never be exposed to the air, but should 

 hare a stink-trap, or air-trap, which will effectually carry 

 off the water, and prevent any noxious vapours from 

 arising. 



Never put more than one horse in a stall; rest, in a 

 recumbent posture, is of the utmost importance to work- 

 ing horses ; a narrow stall is theref n-e, from this reason, 

 a serious evil, as it prevents the horse from taking the rest 

 fio essential to his being able to resume his labour. Nor 

 can a horse do full v/ork, unless he have a good bed : pos 

 9A* 



