476 Abstract Report of Agricultural Discussions. 
pretty genevcally prevalent, and that method was combined in his 
plan with the system of box-feeding recommended in the Prize 
Essay and Commended Essay published in the Journal of the 
Society in 1850. In designing these buildings, the particular object 
had been to adapt them to farms of various sizes, and for animals 
of various conditions. 
He knew that a feeling existed in the minds of many that the 
sj'stem of horse-boxes, with the manure accumulating under the 
animals, could not be worked out to advantage. But he himself 
had put it into operation, and that in a most satisfactory manner, 
in buildings of his own design, upon the property of a gentleman 
for whom he had been agent. In one instance the manure was 
allowed to accumulate for nine months, and in another for fifteen 
months, j-et the horses were in the most perfect condition; no 
disease was engendered during the whole time, and the manure 
was as solid and good as possible. This, however, was only attain- 
able by good management and the issue of proper instructions to 
the groom and stable-keeper. He had ordered his boxes to be 
supplied with straw cut from fifteen to twenty inches long, which 
was done by means of a tliatcher's knife. When the straw was 
much longer, it hung to the horses' hoofs, and the surface of the 
earthen floor became irregular. The air then entered, fermentation 
ensued, and the boxes became more or less the seat and cause of 
disease. ^Vater was sjorinkled over the surface with a water-pot 
and hose one or twice a day, and a little sand was used to give 
soliditj' to the mass. This method had answered exceedingly well, 
and he could recommend its adoption for racers and hunters as well 
as cart-horses, as he never saw horses' feet in better condition for 
shoeing than his were. The boxes were perfectly sweet, and a 
person led into them blindfolded would not detect from the smell 
that he was in the precincts of a stable. The foot of earth absorbed 
the urine ; the ammonia was fixed immediately, and the boxes did 
not require to be cleaned out oftener than twice or three times 
a year. As in the case of the cogimon stable, the olfactory nerves 
would tell when the earth ought to be removed from the boxes. 
The premises sketched out on the plan were suited to an arable 
farm of 300 or 400 acres ; or, where pasture predominated, a farm 
of 800 or 1000 acres. In the present day there were verj' few 
large farms from which steam-power was absent. That of course 
diminished the number of horses. The limit of the accommodation 
on the plan was for twenty-two horses, rather a small number, 
perhaps, for a holding of 800 or 1000 acres. But besides steam 
they had a powerful auxiliary in oxen. All the bullock-boxes 
were capable of furnishing accommodation for oxen ; so that, whether 
the farm was 300, 500, or 1000 acres, the buildings would accom- 
modate animals sufficient to convert the whole of the straw produced 
on the farm into manure. 
With regard to ventilation, the heated air passed out at the roof 
above the animals' heads ; and there was no draught. There was 
ample accommodation for young stock, breeding sows, and the 
