The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-03-31
Building Cheap Stables.


and practical suggestions on this subject,
are by " +. h. S." i'm the Io,oa Homestead
and Western Farm Journal. Ii is not al
ways, nor often, downright inhumanity,
which induces so many prairie farmers
to permit their stock to pass through the
most rigorous winters without suitable
shelter. Want of means to purchase
lumber, other materials, and labor, is
often at the bottom of seeming neglect
in this important matter. The plans
described by "F. r. s." may be modified
in some particulars, and even cheapened
somewhat in execution, but will at least
afford valuable hints which may be
promptly acted on by many hundred Of
those who require additional structures
Of this class. He says:
If the sheltering of stock in winter
necessitated the outlay of large sum
of money for stabling, there might be
some excuse for using the sky for COW
er, but such is not the case, for when
hay and straw are so abundant and so
easily and cheaply obtained, there is
nothing to prevent having good comfor-
table covering for all the stock on the
farm, and at the expense Of little or no
cash. We say this, because we know
ii to be so, at least we are satisfied it is
so, after dozen or more years spent in
the care of stock in the more northern
part of the State, in stables made in
this way.
1--WE used for many years a stable 2Sx
40, built by setting strong posts, eight or
ten inches in diameter, in the ground
firmly, in four rows the two outer rows
are made TO be about six feet high above
ground; they are set ten feet apart. re-
curing five posts for forty-foot stable,
the four rows will require twenty posts.
As hay roof is best to he quite steep,
the two center rows are made much tai
Ter than the outside ones ten feet is
none too much to add, making them
sixteen feet high. These center rows are
set eight feet apart. which will allow of
wagon being driven between; the
outer rows are then placed ten feet from
them. TO allow rooms for stalls and
plenty OF room for passage way. The
posts are now set for stable 24X40-
next thing Is 10 place ratter plates on
the rows in notches cut in the top of
the posts, unless you have secured posts
which have forks at the tOl, which are
the best, as the rafters wi, hold the
plates more securely in place the rafters
are now put on; they are made of poles
of sufficient size to bear the weight of
the roof for thatch roof they are put
about four feet apart they are secured
at the top by tapping the ends of each
pair and then driving a pin through
holes bored for the purpose the next
move is TO nail on the ribs on which
to lay the thatchings; these may
either be made of long, slim poles, or
strips Of boards about two inches wide !:
they are nailed on the raiters about a
foot apart, though this is dependent on
the length Of the matching TO be used.
There is nothing better for this purpose,
We think, than the coarse slough grass
to be found all over the West in album
dance.
HOW TO THATCH.
- 1t is put on much the same as shin
giles. except it is nailed with tarred
twine, or willow twigs, instead Of nails /;
the first course. commencing at the bot
tom, is laid butts down, the other layers
with tops down. and it makes q smoother
lOOl' tlSO ltSS app " llit IOOl SHOulCi
be at least six inches thick after it has
settled down we'll; the thatch is attach
ed to every other rib, and as before said.
is fastened with tarred Irvine, which is
easily obtained at the stores where rope
is kept. Ship cable is generally used;
it is prepared by untwisting the trands
which are then done up in balls; about
five dollars worth will do for roof of
the size above named. The matching is
done by placing a bunch of grass
which has been cut and done up in
bundles the same as grain-as large as
can be grasyed in one hand on the ribs,
and then secure it by giving the cord a
wrap around both and then drawing it
up tight another bunch Is then placed
beside this, and tied in the same way,
and so on until the job is completed.
As there will be more or less open space
at the top, where the two sides are
joined, it Is best to put on ridge board
made of two wide boards nailed together
in the shape Of V, which is inverted
on the ridge and secured as is most con-
venient. The sides and ends are also
matched, or boarded up, as is preferred.
The matching is the cheapest as well as
the warmGst.
THE INSIDE.
As the building is now inclosed, of
course there are doors left, large ones
at the center to admit wagon, and sim
gle ones, also in the ends of the stable,
at the back of the stalls these may be
at only one end or at both as is preferred
by the owner. 1t will be observed that
we have made arrangements for driving
in the center with a wagon this is be-
cause granery is placed overhead,
capable of holding a thousand bushels
of grain, more or less; right in where it
is wanted and where it is safe and dry.
A stairway is made near the center by
which to get the grain to feed In fill
ing it up, if the floor is made of rails,
they may be laid one length at time
and the corn shoveled in from the wag-
on f.; if plank floor is used trap doors
! 1 L. L l. 4