THE STABLE. 
361 
an offensive smell or current of air passing through the 
drains, cheap traps have been invented to stop the grating. 
I have lately seen stables constructed with the patent 
wooden pavement, which answers many good purposes ; it 
is much warmer for the feet, and at the same time softer, 
and entirely free from noise. 
Some persons imagine that the horse should not stand on 
litter during the day, because the heat which it produces 
may prove injurious to the hoof of the horse. I imagine 
that little injury will result from standing all day on litter, 
providing it be dry and not so deep as entirely to cover the 
hoof. It is quite certain that standing on litter must be 
much more comfortable to the horse than on cold, hard stones, 
and we therefore recommend its adoption. 
Farmers are in the practice of using the haum of peas, beans, 
and potatoes, as well as heath. But we would have them 
to recollect that they must be much oftener changed than 
straw, as they soon begin to ferment, and consequently the 
gas emanating from them is noxious ; and besides, the heated 
litter proves injurious to the feet. We cannot too strongly 
impress upon farmers and others the great impropriety of 
allowing an accumulation of litter in their stalls and stables. 
Some are in the practice of nightly heaping fresh straw or 
other materials over that of the preceding day, instead of 
having it removed. It is sure to be hurtful to the animal 
from the reasons we have above stated. 
Before closing this subject, we must state our entire dis¬ 
approbation of double-headed stables, that is, having a range 
of stalls along each wall, with the rear of the horses stand¬ 
ing towards each other. It too frequently happens in inns 
that for want of room these stables are so narrow that the 
hind legs of horses are too near each other, and serious 
injury is often done by kicking. Many fine horses have 
