96 THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



such as spare bandages, etc., should be kept on the 

 open shelves, and never put away out of sight, as 

 by this means they are preserved in better condition. 



Everything which in any way can possibly tend 

 to encourage dust or dirt should be kept down with 

 a strong hand, and whenever an article becomes 

 unserviceable, it should at once be repaired, where 

 such is possible, or made away with. 



It is obvious that where horses are kept there 

 must be some place wherein to store the food and 

 the straw, etc., required for their use. Very often 

 the room which is provided for this purpose is not 

 only very small, but also unsuitable. A good loft 

 is as good as anything, inasmuch as such are gene- 

 rally dry, and it is of the first importance that the 

 forage-store should be perfectly dry. For present 

 use, corn-bins are sufficient for the oats, bran, etc., 

 but as it is as well to buy oats, hay, and straw in 

 not too small quantities, it being cheaper consider- 

 ably to buy them in bulk, a good store is a necessity, 

 and one in which the forage cannot deteriorate in 

 quality from damp, etc. ; and it should be roomy, so 

 as to allow of the forage being neatly arranged, 

 instead of being thrown in anyhow, and here, too, 

 there is obviously a right and wrong way of doing it. 

 To begin with, the trusses of hay should be neatly 

 stacked in the centre of the store, and not packed 



