304 



STABLING. 



of this opening or chimney. Another special convenience was a 

 contrivance for obtaining and measuring grain to be fed, which was 

 so ingenious that I give a description of it : The grain was con- 

 ducted from the loft to the feeding-floor by a spout in which were 

 two slides. Pulling out one of these slides a few inches permitted 

 the escape of two quarts,' and the other one of four quarts, of grain, 

 which was deposited in a drawer beneath. In the bottom of the 

 drawer was a screw, with a handle projecting from the side of the 

 spout. Moving this handle right and left a few times shook the 

 bottom like a sieve, and thus removed all the dust and dirt, leaving 

 the grain clean, fresh, and ready for use. 



I have found two features about the stables as usually con- 

 structed through the country, which are so faulty that I would urge 



the necessity of having 

 them corrected. First, in 

 the construction of man- 

 gers and racks. The man- 

 ger, an open trough, is 

 usually so high that a 

 horse of medium "hight 

 can barely reach over and 

 put hip nose to the bot- 

 tom. Extending over this 

 manger is a rack so high 

 that the horse can scarce- 

 ly reach the hay from it. 

 There is usually more hay 

 packed into this than the 

 horse can eat at one time, so it is suffered to remain there until it 

 becomes stale and sour from the horse's breathing upon it, and the 

 exhalations from the bedding, which is usually packed during the 

 day under the manger. When the horse reaches for the hay, the 

 dust and dirt which have accumulated are thrown over his head 

 and eyes. In the first place, the horse does not like to eat such 

 trash ; second, it is difficult for him to reach it ; third, he is liable to 

 be annoyed, if not injured, by the hay and dirt filtering into his 

 eyes and mane. 



The nearer the horse is made to feed in the stall as he does in 

 the field, the better. But if compelled to eat grain from the ground, 

 there would be waste. To avoid this, a receptacle must be provided 

 in a corner about on a level with the shoulder, from which tp eat 

 grain ; but the hay should be measured and put in a corner on the 



Fig. 370.— Rack too High. 



