April 2, 190G.J Supplement to the " tro^iical Agrimllurist,^' 
walls are less liable to contamination, In big 
stables it is usual for the sake of convenience to 
have temporary partitions slung upon on cliains 
or iron bars; in such establishments these parti- 
tions are less costly and are of great practical use 
when carefully managed. 
Space. — The space allowed for a single horse 
should not be below 12 feet by 12 by 16 feet. 
The passage into the stable ought to be broad and 
high, and if doors are used they must be veiy 
simple in construction and should always open 
outside. If bars be used they must be strong and 
80 fitted as to be easily removed. 
Hoof. — A tiled roof is probably the best. If 
galvanized iron is preferred it is very essential 
to have a wooden ceiling so constructed as to 
allow the free circulation of air between the 
roofing and the ceiling. 
Ventilation. — The ingress and egress of atmo- 
spheric air must be well regulated. It is an un- 
doubted fact in the animal economy that the proper 
ventilation forms one of the main features that go 
to contribute to the health and comfort of the 
creature. This is in many cases ignored, and hence 
the animal suffers from mange and other skin 
diseases, inflammation of the eye membrane, &c. 
The door or the entrance to the stable is of course 
the chief means of ventilation. 
In addition to the door there must be a window 
opposite to the door and at a height just above the 
head'of ;he animal. And just below the window 
there should be a floor ventilator. Square pieces 
2x2 feet of earthenware ventilators are generally 
used. In some instances galvanized iron is used. 
Let any material be used, but cave must be taken 
that the free passage of air does not become 
interrupted, while at the same time there should 
be no possibility of reptiles creeping in. Floor 
ventilation is invariably neglected in Ceylon, but 
it is of the greatest importance as being the 
means of carrying off the heavy foul air which 
otherwise requires a high temperature to make it 
rise to the level of the witidow or upper ventilators. 
Further, it dries up the floor and keeps the stable 
sweet. 
The Window. — It is necessary as already stated to 
have the window just above the head of the horse. 
It should also be so constructed as not to' 
admit of bottles and other articles being placed 
on the ledge. I have heard instances where the 
horses were burnt to death by such lamps placed on 
the window ledge falling on the bedding. The 
wings of the windows should be made to move 
horizontally on two sockets, so that it may open 
and close according to the direction of wind. 
THE CLASSIFICATION OF FIBRES. 
( Continued.) 
[n this arrangement I have separated the fibrous 
substances derived from plants into five groups, 
according to their use in the plant economy, as 
well as in relation to part of the plant employed. 
The first and third groups follow the natural 
division of the two great vegetable kingdom» into 
exogenous and endogenous plants ; the second 
group confined wholly to the first division, but only 
fibrous in a sensa ; the fourth group pertaining to 
■ both, but more largely confined to the first diviwon, 
while the fifth group is comprised of low orders 
of plants that are not fibrous at all, but which are 
chiefly used as clieap substitutes of better packing 
materials. The classification is as follows : — 
A. FiBBO-VASCULAR STRUCTURE. 
1. Bast Fibres. 
Derived from the inner fibrous bark of decoty- 
ledonous plants or exogens or outside growers. 
They are composed of bast cells, the ends of which 
overlap each other so as to form in mass a filament, 
They occupy the phloem poriion of tlie fibro- 
vascular bundles, and their utility in nature is to 
give strength and flexibility to tlie tissue. 
~. Woody Fibres. 
(«) The stems and twigs of exogenous jjlnnts, 
simply stripped of their bark and used entire, or 
separated into widths, for weaving or plaiting 
into basketry. 
{b) The entire or subdivided roots of exogenous 
plants, to be employed for the same purpose or as 
tie material, or as very coarse thread for stitching 
or binding. 
(c) Tlie wood of exogenous trees easily divisible 
into layers or splints for tlie same purposes, or 
more finely subdivided into thread-like siiadinga 
for packing material. 
{d) Tile wood of certain soft species of exogenous 
trees after grinding and converting by chemical 
means into wood pulp, which is simple cellulose, 
and similar woods more carefully prepared for the 
manufacture of artificial silk, 
3, Structural Fibre.?, 
(a) Derived from the structural system of the 
stalks, leaf stems, and leaves or other parts of 
monocotyledonous plants or inside growers oc* 
cui-iiig as isolated fibro-va'-cular bundles and sur- 
rounded by a pithy spongy, corky, or often a soft 
succulent cellular mass cfivered with a thick 
epidermis. They give to the plant rigidity and 
toughness, thus enabling it to resist injury 
from the elements, and they also serve as water 
vessels. 
(6) The whole stems, or roots or leav«$ or split 
and shredded leaves of monocotyledonous plants. 
(c) The fibrous portion of the leaves or fruits 
of certain exogenous plants when deprived of 
their epidermis and soft celluar tissue. 
B. .Simple Oelluab Structure. ' 
4- Surface Fibres. 
(a) The down or hairs surrounding the seeds, 
or seed envelopes of exogenous plants, which are 
usually contained in a husk, pod, or capsule. 
(b) Ilairlike growths or tomentum, found on 
the surfaces of the stems and leaves or on tha 
leaf buds of both divisions of plants. 
(c) Fibrous material produced in the form of 
epidermal strips from the leaves of certain endo- 
genous species, as the palms. 
5, Pseudofibres, or false fibrous material. 
(a) Certain of the messes, as the .species of 
Sphaguum for packing material. 
(b) Certain leaves and marine weeds, the dried 
substance of which forms a more delicate packing 
material. 
(c) Seaweeds wrought into lines or cordage, 
(d) Fungous growths, or the mycelium of 
certain fungi that may be applied to economic uses, 
for -which some ot the true fibres are •mployed. 
