HAY CHAMBER AND GRANARY. 159 



stables but those for race-horses, hunters, and in a certain propor- 

 tion for hacks and carriage horses. In every large establishment 

 a small number must be set aside for the sick and lame, but I am 

 now solely discussing their merits as applied to horses doing work. 



HAY CHAMBER AND GRANARY. 



In EVERY stable conducted economically, whether in town or 

 country, a space should be allotted for storing hay, straw, and corn. 

 Hay and straw are either sold by the ton or by the load, which is 

 two cwt. less, and on that account the loft should always hold at 

 least a ton of hay, and the same quantity of straw, because if a 

 smaller bulk is purchased, it cannot be obtained at the regular 

 market price. Now a ton of hay cut into trusses will nearly occupy 

 the space over an ordinary loose box, supposing that the walls of 

 the loft are not carried up far above the floor, and every additional 

 yard in height of wall allows stowage for another ton. Straw occu- 

 pies more space by nearly one-half, and it may be calculated that 

 a loft formed entirely in a tiled roof of the usual pitch, must have 

 an area equal to two roomy loose boxes, or two stalls and a box, to 

 stow away a ton of hay and a ton of straw, and even then there 

 will be little space for any other purpose. To find room for a 

 corn-bruiser and chaff-cutter, as well as for a stock of oats, a 

 granary with an area at least as large as a loose box should be ar- 

 ranged, and with these conveniences a stable may be said to be 

 complete — that is to say, with dry and airy stowage-room, some- 

 where, amounting altogether to about 2000 cubical feet. If the 

 number of horses kept is larger than three or four, the hay-chamber 

 need not generally be increased to any great extent, because the 

 hay and corn are purchased by the ton or load ; but it is often a 

 great convenience to have accommodations for two or three months' 

 provender, and therefore it is always well to be provided with space 

 enough for that purpose, if it can be so arranged. 



With these calculations to guide him, the builder has 

 next to consider where he shall fix the stowage-room which I have 

 said will be necessary. Formerly a loft was almost always provided 

 over the stable, in which the provender was kept ; but in those 

 days, when high racks were in vogue, a trap-door was left over 

 them to keep them supplied, and the consequence was, that, in the 

 first place, the horses were continually annoyed with the dust fall- 

 ing through, and, in the second, the hay was injured by the vapor 

 from the stable reaching it through the same opening. On these 

 accounts a great outcry was raised against placing the loft in this 

 situation ; and stable-architects insisted upon a hay chamber, as it 

 was called, being built on the ground-floor, or at all events in some 

 other situation than that usually allotted to it. There was great 

 sense in this precaution, and for a time credit was due to the pro- 



