18 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[January, 
size, as shown in the illustration. One of these 
wheels should have one, or more, less teeth 
than the other, which changes the revo¬ 
lution of the stone and brings the involuntary 
increased pressure upon a different part of 
the stone each time, and equalizes the wear. 
If one wheel has 30 teeth, and the other 
29, the stone will make either 29 or 30 revolu¬ 
tions before exactly the same spot will be sub¬ 
jected to the extra wear, aud there will be 29 
or 30 of these spots at regular distances around 
the stone, and in a stone of moderate size they 
will practically run together and leave the sur¬ 
face nearly uniform. 
Draining Hollows. 
Upon one occasion the writer was asked for ad¬ 
vice as to the draining of a hollow in a cultivated 
field, from which no outlet could be made without 
a cutting of at least 10 feet iu depth for a long 
distance. As the hollow was not over an acre in 
extent, the cost of this cutting made it impracti¬ 
cable. Yet something must be done, as the water, 
draining from ten acres, collected in this hollow, 
drowned the crop and allowed nothing to grow but 
immense smart-weed, which was an eye-sore and a 
nuisance. A plan was adopted with success, and 
afterwards the writer had occasion to follow the 
same plan for his own benefit with an equally satis¬ 
factory result. There are many places where simi¬ 
lar hollows exist, which, by a few days’ labor, may 
be drained and rendered useful. 
The plan adopted is indicated in the accompany¬ 
ing illustration, which shows the shape of the 
depression somewhat exaggerated as to its propor¬ 
tionate depth. In the center of the hollow, as far 
as the dotted space extends, the surface soil was 
DRAINING HOLLOW BY A PIT. 
removed and carted to each side, or to the spots 
marked a and b. The deep pit at c was then dug, 
and the earth thrown out was scattered over the 
bottom of the hollow, raising its level to the line a , b. 
The pit was dug down to a porous gravel stratum, 
and was then filled to within two feet of the top 
with large stones, finishing off with smaller stones 
and a layer of gravel. Upon the gravifl the surface 
soil was then spread, except in the center, where a 
wooden curb two feet in diameter was placed, 
which was in connection with the stone below, and 
filled with stone up to the top. The stone was 
raised in a small pile a few inches above the sur¬ 
face, so as to avoid accidents by running over it 
with a plow or otherwise. The water which flowed 
into the hollow in the winter season, found a ready 
escape into the pit and away through the gravel, 
and gave no more trouble. The whole cost was a 
few days’ labor at a season when such labor cost 
but little. There are many similar cases in which 
a like amount of labor at this season when there 
is little else to do, may be usefully expended. 
-■» >—-. «>- 
/ An Italian Manure-Pit. 
The accompanying illustration represents a ma¬ 
nure-pit, constructed by an Italian gentleman of 
Brescia, a description of which is given in an Italian 
agricultural journal, L’ltaiia Agricola. It lias some 
excellent points, which render it worthy the con¬ 
sideration of those who desire to make the most of 
their manure. It consists of a circular pit, about 6 
feet deep and 24 feet in diameter, lined completely 
with cement concrete, or a bituminous rock, called 
belon. In the center there is a deep basin also of con¬ 
crete, above which a circular well is carried up 2 
feet above the level of the surface of the ground. 
Holes in the wall of this well serve to drain the 
manure-pit, and allow the liquid to collect in the 
basin below, from whence it can be pumped up for 
use. The floor of the pit slopes toward the center, 
to facilitate the drainage. The pit is surrounded 
by a space 3 yards wide, at the outer edge of which 
there is a gutter to collect what liquid may drain 
into it, aud convey it into the pit. The whole 
space within the pit will hold over 200 cubic yards 
of manure when it is heaped to a level with the top 
of the well. This pit is substantial and convenient. 
- --=•©=>—-— »-<=■- 
Horse Stables. 
A horse’s health and value greatly depend 
upon the kind of stable in which it is kept. A 
low roofed, close, ill ventilated stable, will 
cause disorders of the lungs or throat; the 
pungent odors of the 
manure in uncleaned 
stables, produce dis¬ 
eases of the eye and 
blindness. Improper 
lighting brings on 
near-sightedness, the 
sudden change from 
a dark stable to bright 
daylight, is very in¬ 
jurious to the eyes; 
while narrow stalls 
and low doors, may 
cause injuries to the 
legs, joints, or heads 
of the animals kept 
in them. Improperly 
built stables are often 
answerablef or strains, 
sprains, spavins, bruis¬ 
ed hips, and poll-evil, 
disorders which seri¬ 
ously reduce the value 
of our horse stock. No valuable horse should be 
kept in any other than a roomy, well ventilated, 
and light “ loose box.” Iu fact, it would pay 
to have such a box in which to keep an ordi¬ 
nary horse. A loose box should not be less 
than 12 feet long, and 10 feet wide; 12 feet 
square would he a better size. There should 
be nothing inside but bare smooth walls; not 
a cleat, or bar, or manger, hay-rack, or trough. 
The feed should he given in racks or mangers 
that swing back and forth from the outside to 
the inside, so that when the horse has taken 
his feed, they may he swung to the outside, 
leaving nothing projecting within. The win¬ 
dows should he large enough to give ample 
light, and overhead it should he either open 
without any floor above, or there should be a 
high ceiling with ample ventilating spaces just 
beneath it, to ensure pure air. These spaces 
should be small but numerous, and should be 
covered with fine wire gauze to break the 
entering current of air into a number of small 
streams, which would intermingle without 
jnaking any sensible draft to fall upon the 
animal. The floor of the box should be slight¬ 
ly sloping towards the center, but ouly suffi¬ 
cient to permit of 
drainage to flow into 
a broad almost imper¬ 
ceptible hollow, along 
which it may he car¬ 
ried outwards. This is 
better than a covered 
drain which is never 
clean, and gives off ail 
abundance of strong 
ammoniacal gas, 
which is injurious to the horse. An open chan¬ 
nel can he cleaned with the greatest ease, and its 
being open,induces the attendant to keep it clean. 
A stable is here illustrated, furnished with 
such boxes, that is suitable for a large farmer 
or a breeder of horses, or if reduced in size, it 
would serve the purpose of those who keep 
but one horse. It may be built of wood, stone, 
or brick. The first is the least durable, but iu 
many cases is the cheapest. The stalls should 
he divided from each other by partitions of four 
inch scantling, covered with matched yellow 
pine boards. If these partitions and the spaces 
in the outer walls are filled with saw-dust, it 
will add much to the warmth of the building, 
and will prevent the passage of rats and mice. 
White spruce plank makes the best floor ; it is 
harder than white pine, softer and not so 
smooth as yellow pine or oak, does not work 
up into splinters as hemlock does, and wears 
sufficiently rough to give a horse safe footing. 
But in most cases a floor of clean sand, which 
can be removed and renewed when needed, is 
the safest, cleanest, and best in every way. It 
is grateful and “ natural ” to the feet; it cannot 
bruise nor injure the horse, gives the safest 
foothold, and is cleanly. Fig. 1 shows the 
elevation of such a building as will accomo¬ 
date 12 horses. Between the stalls is a wide 
passage, into which the feed boxes and hay 
racks may be swung when out of use. There 
is a room for feed, one for harness, and another 
for carriages. The feed may be prepared in 
the loft above, and dropped down a shoot or 
