THE STABLE FITTINGS 83 



would not touch his corn, if in solitary confinement, he 

 will set to grinding when he bears others masticating 

 their provender. 



There are strong advocates among many of our practical 

 men for keeping valuable horses in boxes ; they certainly 

 permit the animal to stand or lie down at pleasure. There 

 is no danger of their getting cast or getting loose ; in which 

 case, though horses are social animals, the intrusion into 

 the stall of another horse, by the animal who has got loose, 

 has often produced not only confusion, but the oiost serious 

 accidents. The term "boxes" is not, however, quite 

 applicable to the places we recommend, they are rather 

 " compartments " for horses. These should be made seven 

 feet high at the rack and manger, and for a yard from 

 the wail, then five feet for the rest of the side, and merely 

 of bars, so closely placed that a horse's nose could not be 

 put through them. These should be of iron. A space for 

 passing should be left behind these compartments — we 

 should say of five feet. The railing at the end should be 

 of wood or iron, so as to give a convenient view of the horse. 

 It may seem superfluous to say that the door should open 

 outwards, and be made so as to fall back, close on the other 

 railings ; this will save the horses from bruises in passing 

 in or out. 



THE STABLE FITTINGS. 



The furniture and fittings of the stable, keeping in view 

 the comfort of the animal, which is no small aid towards 

 " good digestion waiting on appetite, and health on both," 

 comes next into consideration. The neatness, cleanliness, 

 and convenience of the various articles and appliances 

 which modern ingenuity and constructive skill have 

 placed at the disposal of horse-owners are not their least 

 recommendation s. 



Although handsome, serviceable, and really good fittings 

 are made throughout town and country of sound hard wood 

 and hammered iron, yet there can be no disputing the 

 superior patterns, the gi'eater cleanliness, durability, healthi- 

 ness, and convenience of the galvanised, enamelled, or com- 

 ponised iron mangers, water or gruel troughs, racks, etc., 

 now advertised in all parts of the kingdom. 



We need hardly repeat that the old sloped hay-rack of 



