CHAPTER XIV. 



WHAT IS THE BEST MATERIAL FOR 

 THE STABLE FLOOR? 



The difference in Litter— Paving : Bricks, Tiles, or Cement— Moss 

 Peat Litter— Straw, &c. 



' I 'HIS is a question often asked, but it is rather difficult 

 -^ to answer at all times. Much depends on what is 

 going to be used upon the stable floor. If the latter 

 is going to be kept covered with short material, especially 

 moss peat, it makes but very little difference what 

 the floor is made of. I often find farmers' stables, 

 especially in Kent, paved with large flint stones. This 

 is most absurd, because if a horse we:-e restless and 

 pulled all the bedding from under it, it would be 

 liable to cuts its knees when lying down. 



Bricks, too, are often used for the same purpose, 

 especially in gentlemen's stables, so that they can easily be 

 washed down, and at the same time they dry quickly. I do 

 not like blue bricks myself for stables where there is 

 nothing but wheat straw to litter the horses down with, as 

 their feet slip too much. Some people use hard white 



