American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-04
Barns.

A convenient barn is one of the most
important accessories to successful farm
ing To render barn convenient, it must
be located conveniently, and constructed
so as to save all unnecessary labor. 1t
should have dry location. OF all the
disagreeable appendages of the farm, in
our opinion, a muddy barnyard is the
most offensive. To wade through three
or four inches of compound of mud and
animal droppings, three or more times a
day, going thence into the house with
boots covered with filth, is enough to dis
gust men and women with the farmers
life
Since the invention of the patent hay
fork or unloaders, perhaps the construc-
ton of the barn so as to drive into the
upper story to unload grain, hay, stalks,
etc., is of less consequence than when a
very large proportion of the crops were
raised above the head of the pitcher with
a handbook. Still, where the ground is
sandy, or gravelly, and it is convenient to
dig into hillside so as to drive into the
upper story Of the barn to unload, then
load the grain prepared for market from
the first story, it may repay in labor
saving, and perhaps in warmth, for the
extra cost of construction.
But the manure cellar, or the manure
shed, is too little regarded in plans for
the construction of barns. Practical
farmers are becoming convinced that
more attention must be given to saving
the manures accommodating upon the
farms or to be found in the natural depos-
its-the muck swamps-if farming is TO
continue profitable. Where manure eel
lars can be made upon a lower level than
that occupied by the stables, it saves con-
siderable labor in cleaning out the sta
bles. 1t is much easier to scrape the ma
nure together, and have its own gravity
carry it out of the way, than it is to lift it
with fork or shovel, and throw it upon
the pile.
There is one very decided objection to
the plans generally made for manure Gel
lars, and that is, they are located directly
under the stables. A manure cellar, con-
tanning fermenting manure, giving off
ammonia and carbonic acid gas, which
find their way through the cracks and
crevices in the stable floors, are inhaled
into the lungs, or absorbed through the
skin of animals, cannot be otherwise than
detrimental to their health. A manure
cellar entirely back of the stable, into
which the manure from the animal could
be showed through narrow openings, with
tight fitting covers, might be less Objec-
tiOnable. Such cellars should have ven
tilators that would freely carry off all the
gases arising from the fermenting ma
nure.
Inc C0le1 advantage Oh b manure CellaI
over a manure shed would be its keeping
the manure warm and in state of de
composition, in the coolest weather. This
would be quite an important considera-
ton where muck or turf is to be CON-
posted with it, or where it is to be applied
to spring crops. Manure kept in con-
slant fermentation would neutraliZe the
deleterious acids in twice or three times
us bulk of swamp muck. Bones, decay
ing animal or vegetable matter could be
thrown in, digested and prepared for re-
cuperating the soil.
We would offer one admonition to all
who have manure cellars beware of fire.
fanging. If the manure is to be thrown
into a pile and left undisturbed, it had
better be thrown into the open air, or at
least under an open shed, where the low
temperature will prevent that active fer
mentation that causes burning, or fire
| fanging. Manure had far better be kept
in raw, undigested state, and SO applied
| to the soil, than to be consumed by burn
ing. Where store hogs can have free &C
cess to the manure cellar, they will gener1
ally keep the manure pretty we'll worked
over, so as to prevent burning, and where
muck or other absorbants are composted
with the manure they will pretty thor
oughly intermix them. Farmers, give
this subject of improved barns and ar
engagements for saving manure your earn
est consideration during the leisure of
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