133 STABLE ECONOMY. 



Straw of beans or peas never makes a good bed. I believe 

 these straws might be employed more profitably as fodder, and 

 on some farms they are. In some places it is usual to cut the 

 bundle of straw across into two with a hay-knife. It spreads 

 better, and a saving is made, for long straws are often wasted 

 at only one end. 



Some people give the horse no bedding, or almost none. 

 Whether they have ever been able to show that he prefers 

 lying on the stones, I have not heard. But it is well enough 

 known that the want of litter prevents repose, and blemishes 

 the knees, the hocks, and the haunches. 



Changing the Litter. — In well-managed stables the dung 

 and soiled litter are removed every morning at the first stable 

 hour ; or, if the horses are going to work or exercise, this 

 operation is dehiyed till they are gone. The dry litter is 

 thrown forward, or put into an empty stall. That which is 

 soiled is carried to the manure pit, or laid out to dry. The 

 stalls and gangways are then swept clean ;• and sometimes a 

 pailful or two of water is thrown over them to render the puri- 

 fication more complete. After the floor is dry, a portion of 

 the litter is spread out, levelled on the top, and squared behind. 

 Everything in and about the stable is set in order, and the 

 whole is clean and neat. By constant or frequent attendance, 

 it is kept in this state all day. At night more litter is laid 

 down, spread deeper, and farther back. 



In farm and many other stables the soiled litter, if removed 

 at all, is removed at night when the horses come in, and are 

 being supped. This is not right. It fills the stable with 

 noxious vapors at the very time it has most need to be pure. 

 When the horses go out in the morning, the litter should be 

 changed before or immediately after they are gone ; the floor 

 left bare, and the doors and windows open all day. At night 

 the litter may be laid r'.own just before the horses are fed. 



Formerly it was customary to let the soiled litter remain 

 too long below the horse. Even in racing stables it was not 

 usual to clean out the stall oftener than once a week. All, 

 or most of the wet litter was allowed to remain for several 

 days. That which was trampled among the dung was carried 

 out, but the remainder was covered by fresh straw, and left 

 till the day of purification arrived. Now, however, in these 

 and some other stables, the litter is completely removed every 

 morning. It is impossible to have the stable warm, and at 

 the same time wholesome, without doinff so. 



1 his IS a great nnprovement ; but as yet it has not been 



