HABITATIONS 285 



the ground beneath the broken pavement is of the char- 

 acter of a cesspit. Such floorings are found everywhere in 

 the poorer class of stable and byre. 



An ideal non-slippery floor would be sheet lead, though 

 its life in a stable with horses wearing calkins or having 

 itchy legs would be a very short one. It certainly might 

 be employed in the stables of the wealthy as a flooring 

 impermeable to moisture, and on which it is equally 

 impossible for a horse to slip. 



The flooring used for cattle byres is as a rule any stone 

 obtainable, or even wood. Wooden floors are most insani- 

 tary and may be at once dismissed from consideration. 



The only conditions under which cow houses are likely 

 to be provided with a suitable flooring, is through the 

 Dairy, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order, but applied by 

 a Central and not a Local Authority, and this should 

 insist on an impermeable floor of cement or asphalte set 

 on concrete. The stall for a cow practically needs no 

 slope under the animal, as the urine is voided directly 

 behind, generally into a surface drain placed for the 

 purpose, but this matter is dealt with later. 



The flooring of fattening boxes and hammels for cattle, 

 is generally sunk two feet or more below the surface, and 

 in the better class of homestead is concreted below and at 

 the sides. This shallow pit is for the reception of the 

 manure and urine voided during the many weeks or months 

 the animal is standing there, and is trodden into a compact 

 mass by the daily addition of a little straw. It is a filthy 

 system, but not likely to be changed so long as it is eco- 

 nomical of manure and saves labour. We shall allude to 

 the matter later on. 



The flooring for piggeries should be the plain blue 

 Staffordshire brick set in cement. A fall is needed for 

 drainage. Some breeders place a wooden platform at the 

 back of the sty for the pig to lie on ; if employed it should 

 be capable of being removed for the purpose of cleansing 

 and disinfection. 



There is still something more to be said about paving. 



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