58 STABLE BUILDING AND STABLE FITTING. 



Cobble stones. When carefully selected, and laid by an expert, the boulders 

 not being too small, the old cobble stones form a durable 

 paving, and give a good foothold to the horse. But they are 

 unsanitary for stables, and require, owing to their irregular 

 character, a great deal of flushing in yards and passages. 



The Shirly and Portswood stables, designed by the Author for 

 the engineer to the Southampton Tramways, are paved with 

 wood blocks ; but the passages, for the width of 7 feet 6 inches, 

 have a granite paving with a sunk surface channel on each side, 

 which conveys the drainage through two holes in the front wall 

 to an outside syphon-trap. A width of 10 feet is also laid in 

 granite along the front of the stables. 



Wood paving. Wood has been frequently used as a paving, especially where 

 sawdust is adopted in the place of straw — a material much in 

 use a short time since in many of the large London stables — 

 even where they were paved with stone. Its advocates con- 

 tend that it is warmer, especially when laid on wood, that it is 

 more healthy for the horse, and affords the body more uniform 

 repose ; it is no doubt cheaper, and can be procured where 

 straw is difficult to obtain. The absorbent nature of wood, 

 however well covered with sawdust or straw, the unequal 

 character of the cubes, and the likelihood of a flooring so laid 

 being improperly swept and drained, and becoming impure, and 

 its want of durability, have always appeared to the Author insur- 

 mountable objections to its use, except in case of smithies. 

 The blocks used are generally of spruce, either 9 inches by 

 4 inches by 4 inches, or 9 inches by 4 inches by 6 inches. 



Wood Some years ago a paving was introduced, consisting of per- 



floonng. forated planks, raised a few inches above an impervious floor 



which was drained from beneath. 



Another description of wooden, floor was perfectly level, and 

 consisted of fir strips (creosoted) 3J inches by 2 inches, laid 

 diagonally in two laps turning on centres, and meeting in a mitre, 

 so as to give access to the receptacle beneath, a space of half- 

 an-inch being left between the boards for the drainage. . The 



