Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-10-27
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How to make Good Barnyard.
Several thinqsare essential to render barn
yard good one. It must be SO constructed
that water from any source will not accnmu-
late in ii. 1t must not be uncomfortably wet
or disagreeably muddy for stock. The surface
must also be firm, so that coarse manure viii
not be pressed down into the soft earth, and
thus make hard pitching. These are the main
requisites.
Now, the first thing is to provide for carry
ing off the surplus wafer that will be liable to
find its way among the manure. Cut good
ditch entirely around the yard, not less than
30 inches deep, and fiji it with tiles if they can
be obtained, or with plank, as illustrated on
another page. Stones win be just as good to
drain the soil and carry off the water; but the
drains are more liable to be filed up by rats.
This drain viii keep the--gTound dry on each
side of it, and will not carry off the liquid
manure. Conduct all the water by eave-
trouehs from the roof of the barn and sheds
into this underdra;n.
The next step is TO grade the yard, either
by hauling earth away, leyeling off the knobs,
depressions. The surface of the yard should
always descend gradually from the barn and
sheds. There ought also to be buildings, or
cheap sheds on every side of the yard. Ex-
cavate at the lowest part so that liquid from
from all parts of the yard will descend to that
place, and there sink a sugar hogshead, and
cover it with plank, so that nothing can fab
into it. Then, set cheap pump (see page
2l8, July AgrlcuitUrtst,) in this hogshead
pump up the liquid, and send it in board or
bark troughs among the solid manure IN any
part of the yard. This viii be perfect se-
curity against its heating and becoming sire
fanged."
The nextjob viii be to pave the whole, or a
portion of it. Stones of various sizes and
forms may be used. Flat stones three or four
feet square are Objectionable, for heavy cattle
are liable to slip on large stones so as to in
jure themselves. Were they to slip not more
than two feet, there would be little danger
of harm. Some parts may be paved with
bonlders of certain size, and then those of
another size may be used in another place
Large stones and small ones may be placed
side by side, by excavating little for the
large ones, so that the surfaces of each will
be of equal hight. Stretch line across the
yard and lay the top of each row of stones
even with the line. In this way there win be
little or no difficulty in making the surface of
the pavement even. When laying the stones.
the workman needs trowel to place sand. or
fine gravel beneath thin or small stones, to
raise them up to the line, anda rammer made
OF billet of hard wood with an iron ring.
like that of beetle, on the bottom of it. TO
to drive those stones that are too high. down
even with the line.
After the paving is finished, spread sand
gravel, or finely-pulverized clay all over the
pavement and work it into the interstiees.-
This viii make a barnyard that every good
farmer will be proud of. On many farms
there are loose stones enough lying in the
heidssto pave several yards Where stones
are scarce, the surface mayi be covered with
gravel or clay, or compact earth, instead of
stones. Where timber lis cheap, yard can
be paved with wood, by saving off logs, FIVE
or six inches long, with drag saw, and pIa-
cling them on the end. This would make a
pavement that could not fail to please the
most incorrigible faultfnder OF grumbler.-
Hemlock, pine, oak of all kinds, and many
other kinds of wood sawed into paving blocks
and well tarred on the lower ends with coal
tar, would last many years, always making
very smooth and agreeable surface to work on
and not slippery for animals. 1t would also
hold liquid manure well.