102 THE DAIRYMAis^'S MANUAL. 



into the road and the fields across it, as shown in figure 1. 

 1'he numerous doors and gates are made self-closing b}- 

 means of springs j so that accidents (?) from neglected 

 open doors cannot happen. A number of hay and fodder 

 barracks are at the rear of the stable, in the field which 

 is within easy reach. 



St.a ble Floors. — The most important part of the stable 

 is the floor. As a rule, the earth is the best floor for a 

 stable of any kind. If it is hard enough, a firm clay or 

 gravel, it will soon become so solid .as to need no repair. 

 But it is not often the case that such a naturally solid floor 

 can be found. It is, therefore, necessary to reinforce it by 

 some covering of concrete or cement. This is done as fol- 

 lows: The floor is first graded in a suitable manner to the 

 gutter; two inches in four and a half or fi^e feet, which is 

 the right width of a floor for cows, is a sufficient slope. 

 The most of this slope should be made near the gutter, 

 where it is most required. The floor is then covered 

 with a mixed concrete of sand and gravel, wdth common 

 lime first properly slaked and well worked together with 

 a hoe, and left in a heap after warking once a day for 

 several days. This makes it tough and. durable. Some 

 coal ashes well worked in, after being wetted, makes the 

 concrete still more durable. Sawdust, first soaked with 

 water, also adds to the strength of the concrete, and 

 plenty of short straw will have the same effect. Good, 

 tough clay, worked well into a stiff puddle with sawdust 

 or short straw, or both, makes a good material for a 

 stable floor. Hydraulic cement, in the proportion of one 

 barrel to three barrels of sharp sand, and five or six 

 barrels of coarse gravel, makes the best and most durable 

 floor, and if saturated with hot gas-tar will be com- 

 pletely water-proof and rat-proof. The work is don* as 

 follows: The common lime is properly slaked in the 

 usual manner; after it is cold the sand is worked in as 

 for building mortar; twice its bulk of coal ashes or coarse 



