CHAP. I. 



CATTLE STALLS. 



671 



Cattle- Stalls. The structure of these buildings is very simple. 

 Each stall should not only be provided with a crib for the food, but it 

 should contain also a vessel, or trough, for the reception of water, 

 which may be conducted into it by means of cast-iron tubes leading 

 from the cistern or pump. The size of the house, or number of the 

 stalls or boxes, must depend upon the manner in which the farm is 

 occupied ; but it should never be forgotten that the cattle must have 

 ample accommodation. 



In order to erect feeding-houses to advantage, great attention should 

 be bestowed on their situation. They should not be too much exposed 

 to the sun nor yet to cold winds. The floors should be gentty sloping, 



Fig. 200. Straw-Rack for Cattle-Courts. 



with proper drains for carrying off the urine, and for the easy removal 

 of dung and other muck. The floors may be variously paved. 



Some have recommended that the pavement should be of pitched 

 stone ; others advise the use of concrete ; but the least expensive 

 method is to lay the floor with Dutch bricks, or clinkers, usually 

 employed for flooring or paving stables. The pavement should not 

 have too great a slope ; for, if too much of the weight be thrown on 

 the hind legs, the animals will become uneasy and suffer pain, and be 

 subject to cramp and rheumatism, and consequently will rarely feed 

 well. 



The doors should open outward, as b} 7 that means a waste of space 

 will be prevented, and the sheds rendered more secure against 

 intruders. 



The width of the stall varies. For two fair-sized oxen, from 

 nine to ten feet are considered sufficient. Cows, though in general 

 smaller than oxen, require equal, if not greater space, in order to allow 

 of conveniently milking them, as well as of their suckling the calves ; 



