36 



STABLE ECONOMY. 



The Under-Rack is sometimes nothing but a large deep 

 manger, having a few spars across the top, placed so far apart 

 that the horse's head can pass between them, and let his 

 muzzle to the bottom. This is used when the stable is too 

 low to admit, an elevated rack. It is a poor substitute, trouble- 

 some to fill, and permitting the horse to waste his hay by scatter- 

 ing it among his litter, and spoiling it with his breath. Some- 

 times the under-rack differs not in form from the ordinary 

 wooden one. It is three feet long, occupying half the breadth 

 of the stall, and having its upper border level with the manger, 

 which occupies the other half of the stall. It is sometimes 

 sparred across the top, but most usually open ; its front is 

 sparred, sloping, and reaching to within a foot of the ground 

 The object of this is to permit the horse to eat while lying. 

 Few appear much inclined to take advantage of the contrivance. 

 Some do ; but most horses eat what they want before lying 

 down. It allows the horse to breathe upon his hay, and to 

 throw it on the ground ; and when sparred at top, he can not 

 get to the bottom of the rack, except from the front, and the 

 front he can hardly apply to without lying down. The under- 

 rack, though generally made of wood, and with an inclined 

 face, is sometimes of cast-iron, and upright. 



Fig. 5. 



