ABOUT STABLES. 121 



cleat shown. The damper is made of a board just the size 

 of the inside of the ventilator. It is kept from falling down 

 the ventilator by resting upon a cleat at one side and the 

 damper rod at the other. It is not balanced, and its own 

 weight causes it to fall across and close the shaft when the 

 cord is loosened. The feed-door shown open must be tight 

 when closed after throwing in hay. There should be several 

 of these doors in the ventilator at different heights. 



For controlling odors in the stable nothing equals fine road 

 dust. Its absorptive quality is surprising. Never use lime 

 nor ashes. They only set the ammonia free as an annoying 

 and destroying gas to act upon the eyes of the horse, spoil 

 the carriage varnish, and rot the harness. 



The necessity for a harness closet, and an illustration of 

 one, has already been given on page 56. Another great con- 

 venience about the stable is the wash-pave, where the carriage 

 may be washed without getting it splashed with mud while 

 doing it, or at the same time get your feet muddy. It should 

 be somewhat larger on all sides than the carriage, and should 

 be depressed towards the centre, with a gutter to run the 

 water off. It may be made of flat flagging stones, bricks or 

 concrete. Have it in a sheltered sunny place if possible, 

 and the carriage will get washed on many winter days when 

 otherwise it would not be done. 



There is another chief stable necessity — pure water. Be 

 sure it is pure. Impure water dulls the lustre of coat and 

 eye, and numbs the action and other faculties, gradually poi- 

 soning the system and lessening the value of the horse, or 

 destroying him if its use be continued. A stable or yard 

 draining into or soaking through the soil to a barn well 

 makes water impure, dangerous. If the purity be questioned, 

 send a sample quart to the chemist of your State experiment 

 station to be analyzed. 



