Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-03-06
agricultural.
Rarp Cellars.

Some difference of opinion exists as to the
advantages and disadvantages, perhaps we
should say. the economy, Of barn cellars. A
farmer who is about to build barn is often
in some doubt what to do. We have no
doubt of their economy in our own mind, and
if VIC were about to build, we should not
hesitate moment about the cellar We
would have it. and have it large and roomy
extending under the whole barn if practical
BILE
But, it is said by those who oppose the
plan of a cellar under the barn, it Injuries the
hay and is in furious to the cattle that de-
ponds on the way in which it is arranged.
\ cellar properly aired and ventilated, need
not injure the hay nor the cattle either, and
we apprehend the great reason why any one
has found fault with the barn cellar, arises
wholly from want Of care and attention to
ventilation. No doubt there are cases where
the hay and the health of the cattle have been
in Iured from the noxious gases arising from
large mass of fermenting manure, but this
will be found only in those barns where prop
ventilation has been neglected. We be-
lieve barn cellar can be used for manure
with perfect safety, and that the question
was long ago settled in favor Of the plan.
But suppose it were not to be used as a
place for preparing and economizing manure.
the economy of cellar under the barn would
still prevail. for there is no more convenient
place for storing carts, and large farm tools.
than dry and well ventilated cellar under
the barn. The roof costs no more because it
covers a cellar. The extra cost is in the
walls and the supports, and this is getting a
fine roomy place for storage of carts and roots,
for very reasonable outlay. Besides they
are often convenient as a shelter for stock
which may be allowed to go in or out at will
or otherwise
IF a farmer could have a covered yard for
manure, he could avoid the necessity of using
a cellar in Its manufacture, but most farmers
will not go to the trouble and expense II
they are fortunate enough to have a cellar.
the convenience of its use is great that
they prefer to dump the manure into that
where this is the case, much of the incOnven-
fence which might be felt from the stencil
that would rise from It, may be avoided by
the use of some absorbent, and this we be-
lieve to be advisable, not so much to prevent
loss from evaporation of the valuable gases
formed by the qualification of manure, as to
absorb the urine, and to prevent such gases
and moisture as might arise from it, from
injuring the hay, the stock, and the wood
work of the barn itself.
On a side hill there is little difficulty in
building the cellar at comparatively little
cost. The trouble often comes on level
ground. And this may be got over, by build
ing half the cellar below the level of the
TrOunu- anu TdlslIlS the Darn up IOr the Otner
half Proper drainage should be provided in
this case, to avoid much standing water, and
this can generally be arranged. No farmer,
we think, who has ever had a barn cellar
would consent to do without one 1t is too
convenient both as a place of storage, and for
manure, to be given up.
We took occasion a short time since, to
speak of the economy Of manure, and to say
that more of the really valuable constituents
were lost by exposure to rains and to wash
ing from the caves, than from exposure to
the sun and air And this is the case If,
therefore, cellars were to be given up, many
farmers would be put to great expense to
protect the manure by suitable covering in
any other way. The only other way practi-
cable would De by means ofcovered sheds, and
even that would be attended by great expense
and trouble of wheeling out manure, and this
labor could not well be avoided if we would
protect the manure at all, which we regard
as of great consequence, though where all
danger Of surface washing is removed BY a
barn-yard, so arranged as that nothing would
escape from it, the loss would be slight Few
yards are 50 arranged as to prevent this ;
and hence the importance of cellar under
the barn, where the value of manure, liquid
and solid, can be economsed.
We go in for barn cellars, but we are ready
to hear what our readers have to say on the
subject, it is one of considerable impor-
lance, and worthy to be thoroughly consid-
cred upon it's merits.