THE FARM STABLE. 63 



do it ? This evil of allowing the dung to lie for weeks 

 and months among the horses' feet is but the force of a 

 habit which the farmer and his hired man have acquired, 

 to the injury of his horses' health, and the destruction of 

 his harness-leather and carriage-paint. 



The ventilation of farm stables can scarcely be called by 

 that name, as the upper portion, filled with hay, straw, &c., 

 effectually cuts ofi" all communication with the roof of the 

 barn, and thus natural ventilation is prevented. The air 

 that is admitted by crevices in the lower walls is perhaps 

 enough ; but when inhaled by and expelled from the lungs, 

 there is no upper opening through which it may ascend ; 

 hence all its impurities must settle, some on the walls and 

 fixtures, to be again and' again inhaled, until, from its 

 weight of impurity, it is prevented floating in the air of 

 the place. We have in Chapter I. already referred to 

 the poison in this deposit, not as a curiosity in nature, but 

 as something to be dreaded and avoided, through the instru- 

 mentality of ventilation or pure air and cleanliness in all 

 places where animals are confined. 



The folly of " carrying too many eggs in one basket'^ is 

 no greater than that of the farmer in converting his stable 

 into a tool-house, a barn, and a byre. Let the vivid light- 

 ning or the incendiary's torch strike this place, and what 

 can be saved ? In the confusion of the moment, you 

 know not what to get out first — the horses, oxen, cows, 

 grain, carriages, farm tools, or machinery. There is too 

 much to do in the few moments that may be allowed on 

 6* 



