The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-05-05

Sun-Furnaccs for Barns--.CattIe
Under Glass.

The matter of lighting and warm
ing houses by tho sun is getting TO be
understood, partially at least But
the barns have thus far been neg
lected There arc very few, if any,
to be seen that arc lighted either
sufficiently to secure the health of the
animals, or for the purpose of economy.
1t is an exceptional thing to find glass
windows of any size opening into the
apartments in which cattle, or sheep,
or horses are kept Their place is
supplied, so far rs it is supplied at Nil,
by wooden doors, turning on hinges
or sliding These are opened on
pleasant days, and they let in a little
air but scarcely tho 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 ms they might, by making
their yards open towards the south,
with sunny sheds, and letting the an
finals spend the middle of the day in
these. In severe weather however,
this is poor SHIFT. And it often hap
pens that positive injury 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 it's entering even at the
little windows, when they are open.
Now it is perfectly plain what
should be done. The stables should
have its long south wall filled with
glazed windows These should be
furnished with board shutters to
close at night, or in cold, cloudy wealth
er, to prevent the rapid cooling from
the surface of the glass. The expense
involved at first would not be large;
the saving ever afterwards would be
great If any room is well closed
around half it's circuit-from the west
point by the north, to the cast, and
set with glass in the other half, there
are few days in winter, hone except
the dark ones, that it cannot be kept
at comfortable temperature, There
is no doubt of this at all.
In such rooms the stock will thrive
Care will be needed in some of the
warmest 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 that the
saving in fodder would pay for the
glass in a single season. Cattle have
to eat, as we do, to keep warm. Burn
ing up meal and hay to warm them il
q costly process. Yet this is cxactl,
what many an economical farmer
does, who would grudge the expens
of cheap window, that would let il
the sun to do it. Then, when it is al
the beast can do to make up fir
enough to keep itself from freezing
it has nothing to spare to be store
up in fat, or sent of, if it bea COW, i
milk. Fat is concentrated food lai
up; milk is concentrated food give
away To be sure, the animal systei
needs food for other purposes beside
maintaining warmth; yet this is
very important use of it, and the on
one with respect to which we ca
economic, except by sparing Il
animal unnecessary or excessive M
ton, which also makes waste
The cheap and free gifts of II
ture men have always been apt
overlook. We are only beginning
find out how to use the air and SUI
shine for ourselves We have n
thought of the animals, that we ha
the care of, yet at all. We predi
that in fifty years hence the cold, dal
barns we have now will be remer
bered and looked on, if any of the
are standing, as wonders Of discomfo
and wastefulness Nobody will thin
then OF raising cattle in any 9th
way, in these cold climates, exec
under glass. Springfield Republica