ABOUT STABLES. 117 



feet is the least that should be given from the manger to the 

 wall at the back. Fifteen or sixteen feet would be still better. 



Have the feed-bins and watering-troughs arranged so that 

 they will be handy and save steps. It will pay to line the 

 bins with tin to keep out the rats and mice. 



If you cannot afford to cement the stable floor fill it in 

 with clay, and ram it hard and smooth. Here is how to lay 



a cement floor and have one by all means if you can. Dig 

 out the earth eighteen inches deep and fill in with the stones 

 to within six inches of the surface where the horse's feet 

 would be. Next ram down hard three inches of concrete 

 made of cement one part (Portland cement preferred), clean 

 sharp sand three parts, and screened gravel six parts. Wet 

 the gravel well and mix in the sand and cement thoroughly. 

 The mass must be sprinkled until it will retain any shape it 

 is pressed into. The surface coat is an inch thick, put on 

 before the first coat of concrete sets. It is made of three 

 parts sharp sand and one part cement. This is spread 

 smoothly, and must not be disturbed till the entire floor is 

 set hard like a block of granite. To induce it to dry slowly, 

 and so prevent cracking, it may be covered with a thin layer 

 of straw and sprinkled occasionally. If the hardening pro- 

 cess takes two or three weeks, so much the better. The 

 whole surface must slope gently from the manger, say at the 

 rate of one inch to three feet. This will carry the urine 

 back so the horse will not get soiled nor be otherwise injured 



