Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-03-19
AGRICULTURAL, &t.

The proper ventilation of all our buildings is of
much Importance. and, if we may draw the in
ference that frequent discussion Of subject
familiarizes the people with its principes,ws must
infer that this is well understood, since none Is
more frequently ventilated" If on the o;he
hand we may judge from the success Of indiyij-
uals in securing that ventilation Of their build
ings that is desirable we may safely come to the
conclusion that it is yet one of the least under
stood Of subjects.
We had occasion to visit large dairy estab-
lshment, not many miles from the city, qu 'e
recently. On opening the stable door there
came pouring out into our faces a cloud Of Eapor
laden with foul stenches and poisonous gisses al
most sufficient to produce straguhton. IN
stable was bricked and sealed up SO as to Keep
out the cold and no provision whatever maze loi
it sventilation The feeding doors in front OF the
cows do not close entirely tight, and they thus
get small supply Of fresh air to breathe, or not
a COW could live twenty-iour hours IN the placs
OF course the supply is very limited since when
the stable is once filed with air warmer than
that outside, there is no circulation and there
being no escape, no new supply is forced in
When the door is opened the heated air escapes
with a rush and its place is supplied by a cur
rent under the feed doors. 1t is not at all sur
prising that milk, butter, and cheese - taste
bad" if produced in 50 foul an atmosphere as
this. Milk absorbs taints a: best if exposed to
atmosphere charged with foul gases. What then
may we expect Of II when forced through such
gases in minute streams as Is done during the
process Of milking.
There were other stables connected with the
establishment in which provision was made for
drawing off the foul air through ventluct,
extending from the top part Of the stable TO the
top part of the building, some 10 or T. feet and
there opening out through the side Of the build
ing. This is little-a VERY little-better than
the other, for when the wind is not blowing into
the opening at the top the foul gasses win escape
there if there is an abundant supply of fresh air
below. but all the animal heat escapes az the
same time and the temperature Of the stable is
about the same as that out Of doors. At the
time Of our visit these ventiluets were all closed
and these stables were quite as lily ventilated as
the one before alluded TO-
The error N all our provisions for ventilation
is fundamental 1t is not true as generally sup
posed that the exhalations of the animal system
because heated are lighter than the surrounding
atmosphere and must periorce rise On the 9TH
er hand they are heavier and would never ascend
in to the upper portions Of a room but FOR the
operation of the principle known as " diffusion
of gases, 81 and the escape Of heated air from
the top Of the room while its place is supplied
from below forces these gaseous calculations
upward, aiding the diffusion. In order to secure
pure air and at the same time retain the great
est possible amount Of warmth in stable or
dwelling edcction pipes should extend from the
lowest par; of the room, upward as high as may
be, 50 as to secure the straightest possible draft,
The air will then lie in strata the warmest
above and the coolest below, but as soon rs the
warmth inside is greater than thar outside
current will begin to ascend the duct, taking
along the f III exhalations. In apartments arti-
fcially heated it matters but little whether the
heat comes in at bottom or top, it couuot he re-
lied upon to make the lower portion of the apart
ment comfortable if there is an opportunity to
escape from the top. We all know bow ne55s-
sary it is to sit over the register in such cases
Stables are really constructed SO close that with
a good upward draft the supply Of fresh air
will be insufficient.
The ventilation of milk-rooms, ice-h0uses, de-,
in warm weather is quite faulty. In this case 10
is not a supply of fresh .air that is desired, but
to retain in a state Of perfect quiescenee the
present supply, because the outside sir is really
much warmer than that inside, and its iuuJiuc-
ton adds heats rather than removes it.. Mos.
venti,ators employed on such establishments pro- /
duce an inward and outward current and defeat
the end sought. In this case a small aperture
in the top Of the apartment is all that is de>rl-
be