28 The Stable- Yard and its Occupants. 



For the guidance and assistance of those proposing to 

 build their own stables, subjoined are some plain, useful 

 remarks on the building, draining, and ventilating, and also 

 some plans for the arrangement of the stalls and boxes, 

 and designs for stable fittings, selected from the catalogue 

 of the St. Pancras Ironworks Company, where fittings and 

 articles of stable furniture will be found, both for quality 

 and moderate charges, equal to any in London. These 

 plans can be varied and enlarged according to circum- 

 stances. 



Aspect. — When about to build a stable, the first con- 

 sideration will naturally be the selection of a site. We 

 need not insist on the advantages of a southerly aspect : 

 they are almost self-evident. The stables will be much 

 more cheerful, and much warmer, and enable the groom 

 to avail himself of every gleam of sunshine to open the 

 windows and thoroughly ventilate the interior. 



Unfortunately it is not always possible, from the disposi- 

 tion of the ground and premises, to manage this. How- 

 ever, let it be borne in mind that such is the best, the 

 west the next best, and the north-east the very worst. 



It should not be forgotten, also, that a thorough drain- 

 age is one of the most important points, and every natural 

 slope of the land should be taken advantage of in this 

 respect. 



Drainage. — Having settled the site and the plans of 

 the stables, to which we will refer further on, the first works 

 to be provided for will be the drainage, for these will have 

 to be carried out simultaneously with the foundations. The 

 drains will be of two sorts, which should be kept as far 

 away from one another as it is possible to manage : first, 

 those connected with the drainage of the interior of the 

 stables ; second, those intended to carry away the surface 

 water and collect the rain-water from the roofs, &c. 



Sewers. — There are four conditions which are to be 

 regarded as indispensable in the construction of all drains 

 from all buildings whatsoever. These conditions are : 

 Firstly, that the entire length of drain is to be constructed 

 and maintained with sufficient declivity towards the dis- 

 charge into the cesspool, to enable the average proportion 



