The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-06-29
Farm. Garden and Household,
A Good. Plain Farm Barn.

good barns we have examined in various
portions OF the country, and particularly
q few IN the village of North Attleboro'
Mass. y few days since by invitation O
the proprietor, we visited good barr
owned by Wm Pond one of the largest
milk producers supplying the North At
lchoro' market The farm is the olt
homes stead of the Thayer family, in whose
name it has been held for more than sixty
wears, and lies about two miles east of the
village of North Attleboro'. Just within
The limits of the quiet Old rural town OF
Wrenlham The soil, though rough and
stony, is of excellent quality, producing
grass. grain and fruit in abundance, with
only ordinary care and cultivation. The
stones are a mixture Of small. round cob
bes, brought from farther north during
the ice period, and dark slate belonging q
10 the underlaying strata in the immedi-
ate vicinity. About fifty years ago con-
siderable capital was expended in the en-
jeayor to find coal suitable for fuel, but
with little success pecuniarily, two deep
shafts having been sunk only to be aban-
'oued There is, undoubtedly, coal here,
hut it is not plenty enough or good enough
' be worth mining at present
The farm is quite small and formerly
kept only three or four COWS and a horse.
bul since Mr.. Pond took hold of the helm
at has gradually increased the amount of
Stock, Till now there arc from twelve to
-Ntcen cows and two horses kept all the
tlne, to say nothing of a halfdoze breed
Ug swine of superior merit, with their
numerous progeny We found on the day
vi uur visit thirteen rs fine looking grade
COWS as we have seen for many months.
pght of which We're giving, at the time.
JH average of sixteen quarts each of milk
daily. and we should Judge by the looks
and condition Of the COWS that the milk is
10 much better quality than the average
I'D uilkmen's milk Curn meal and good
AaY and grass constitute their feed, the
weekly amount Of meal required being
something over twenty bushels for all the
stock The COWS get about half peck
eacu per day, and are in good beef con-
jition nearly all the time MI Pond COM
mcnced his milk route a few years ago
with one patron, but now finds it neces-
-aN O. use two teams in the delivery every
morning
Iae barn which has been recently re-
uoIeied, enlarged and thoroughly repair
"a. is Il model for warmth, economy, CON
rtnieuce and storage capacity, according
g It's size. We took 70 measurements,
ut should Judge it to be over forty feet
WIDE by nearly fifty long, being nearly
square ON the ground. 1t is covered with
arrow planned and matched boards laid
vertically, and well nailed to horizontal
oists and tmbers, and well painted with
1eSt oil paint The frame is light, the
alters being only 2X4 spruce, but the root
quite steep and well supported by heavy
purloin plates. The stables for the cows
.re upon the south side, are well lighted,
and very wide The walls are boarded
inside the ioists with matched boards.
similar TO the outside covering, and the
liable is separated from the other portions
the barn by a tight board partition in
wont Of the cows This has doors which
may be let down at feeding time and for
-Iyingneeded ventilation. The walls of the
stablea so othorouglynon-conducting that
1T was found impracticable to entirely close
The doors and windows during the severest
winter weather In one corner Of the
stable is a brick cistern of the capacity of
slX or eight hogsheads. which is kept con-
SANITY filed by running water from q
ping some twenty rods distant. This
never troze a particle during the past Win
ter Besides supplying water for the
stock, this cistern Is especially convenient
lud valuable in summer for holding milk
ln the cans tor cooling
Unlike many barns, this is not half
ttken up by waste room, in long barn
i4ors and drivc-ways The main entrance
extends but about half way across, and Il
had Of hay standing on the floor may be
atched off to any part of the barn with
Ae labor OF only two men on the mOws
-catfolds the load being nearly equally
distant from either corner of the building
mTiagc rooms. harness and tool closets,
Nd stairways are provided in convenient
places, and Of easy access. A good cellar
underneath furnishes an excellent recep-
taele for manure, and Il comfortable room
tur swine An addition for laying up dry
Garth is planned at one end OF the princi-
H stable, and will be built during the
present summer
On the day OF our visit, May 2G, Il large
teld Of heavy winter rye lay cut and
spread and was beng converted into hay
as fast as the sun and air could make it.
Mr. Ezra Thayer, the second owner since
the farm came into the Thayer family,
now over eighty years of age, still enjoys
seeing the improvements going on under
tnc enterprising management of his SON
n.laW, who is a natural born farmer n
j. Farmer.