54 STABLE ECONOMY. 



There should be one for each stall, and when the stall is 

 empty, the hole may, in winter time, be closed. It should be 

 from eight to ten inches square, and placed midway between 

 the travises. When the stable is surrounded by other buildings 

 in such a manner that the air-holes can not be made in the 

 head wall, they should run through the roof. When a loft is 

 over the stable, the air may be let out by small chimneys 

 running up the walls ; and if these have been neglected in the 

 original construction, the air should be conducted through 

 ceiling and roof by square wooden tubes, in order that it may 

 not mingle with the hay. In this case, instead of an aperture 

 to each stall, one, two, or three, of larger size, may be sufficient 

 for the whole number, and much less expensive and incon- 

 venient than a separate tube to each horse ; whether few or 

 many, they should be of sufficient size : taken altogether, the 

 whole should afford an opening equal to ten inches square for 

 every horse ; and when the stable is low-roofed, this size may 

 be too small. When two or three large ventilators are to 

 supply the place of many smaller openings, they should be so 

 constructed that their size may be regulated according to the 

 number of the horses. When the stable is only half filled, 

 the ventilators, except in hot weather, need not be more than 

 half open. But yet they should never be made to close en- 

 tirely, lest an ignorant groom take it into his head to shut 

 them all, or a careless fellow to neglect them. In a double- 

 headed stable, two or three may be placed on each side, 

 directly over the horses' heads ; or they may be directly above 

 the gangway : the first plan is the best, but the second is 

 the cheapest. In the one case it may require four apertures, 

 two on each side with as many wooden tubes to run through 

 the loft ; in the other case, only two of double the size may 

 be placed in the gangway. Mr. Lyon's stables are thus ventil- 

 ated. 



The same tubes serve for air and for light. Whether large 

 or small, the air-holes should be defended on the outside by 

 a cap to exclude rain and wind. In some situations an iron- 

 grating may be necessary to exclude vermin, thieves, and 

 persons maliciously disposed. When this is used, the aper- 

 tures must be much larger. 



In addition to the usual ventilating apertures, there ought 

 to be one or two others for airing the stables more completely 

 upon certain occasions. After washing, fumigating, or other 

 purifying processes, or when the horses are all out, or when 

 the weather is very hot, it may be convenient to produce a 



