The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-04-26


UNDER Glass. The matter of lighting
and warming houses by the sun is getting
to be understood, partially at least. But
the barns have thus far been neglected.
There are very few. if any, to he. seen
that are lighted either sufficiently to Sc
cure the health of the animals, on for the
purpose Of economy. 1t is,an exceptional
thing to find glass windows Of any size
opening into the apartment which cattle,
Or sheep or horses are kept. Their place
is supplied so far as it is supplied at all,
by wooden doors, turning Oh hinges or
sliding. These are opened on pleasant
days, ard they let iaa little air, but
scarcely the sunlight. When the weather
is cold they have to be shut, and thus the
light and warmth are kept out when they
are most needed.
Farmers have tried TO remedy the evil
as far as they might by making their
yards open towardS the South, with sun
ny sheds, and letting the animals spend
the middle of the day in these. In severe
weather, however, this IL ~ poor shift.
And it often happens that positive in
jury comes of the sheds, for they are put
on the south side of the stables, and thus
shut off the sun entirely from these, and
prevent Its entering even Il. the little win.
dowa, when they are open.
Now il is perfectly plain what should
he dave. The stable sllerld have its
long southwall filled with glazed windows.
hese should be furnished with broad
shutters TO- close at mig It, or in cold cloudy
weather; 70 prevent the rapid cooling
f'n3m the surface oftae glass The cx-
pense involved at first would not bs large ;
the saving ever afterwards would he great.
If any room is well closed around its cir
cuit--flcm tie west point by the north,
to the east, and set with glass in the
other half there are few days Of winter,
hone except the dark ones, that it can
not be kept at comfortable temperature
I here is no doubt about this Mt alA
In such a room the stocll will thrive
Care viii be aeeded in some Of the warm
st weather, to see that the heat does not
become excessive, which Of course the
shutters may regulate Besides the gain
in health and better thrift, we have no
doubt the saving in fodder oaly would
pay for the glass in single season. Cat
tie have tis' cat, a5 we do, to keep warm
Burning up meal and hay to warm them
is Il costly process. Yet this is exactly
what many an ccopomicab tarmer does,
who would, gruh y, the expense of cheap
window, fhat would let in the sun tc do
1t. Then, when it is all the beast can do
to make up fire enongh to keep itself
from freezing, it has nothing to spare to
be stored up in fat, or sent Off il "a be a
COW, i'U m;lS Fat rs concentrated food
laid up; milk is concentrated food given
away. 10 be sure, the animal system
needs food for other purposes besides
maintaining warmth; yet this ;s very
important use Of it, and the only one
with respect to which we can economize,
except sparing the animal unnecessary
or excessive motion, which also makes
waste.
The cheap. and free gifts of natlre.men
have always been apt to osc;lo,k. We
are only beginning to find out how TO use
the air and sunshine for ourselves. We
have not thought Of the animals, that we
have the care of, yet at all We predict
that fifty years hence the cold, dark barns
we now have will be remembered and
looked on, if any of them are still stand
ing, as wonders of discomfort and waste
fulness. Nobody will think then of rails
ing cattle in any other way, in these cold
climates, except under glass.-.Sp,lngfeld
I RepH5hcan.