The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-02-15
MEN WITHOUT MONEY
Our Barns are too Cold,

There are exceptions. undoubtedly, but
most ot our farm barn aie too cold Ii IS
we'll to provide ton ventilation. bat we
leave too many open cracks between the
board, and ta0 many panes OF glass hrols-
TN, and excuse our 8hiltcssne8s ON the
plea ct ventilatiom When building a barn
lor cattle, we should make the walls TIGHT
and then if there ie danger OF too little air
inside on these cold, windy niohta, a VIM
dow may he left open an inch OF two at
the top v T. have seen a few stables that
needed small opening ion ventilation,
even in the coolest weather, but the mum
her OF such 7 very small, lor where there
- one that ls too close, there are fifty that
are too open, Newly built stables are now
usually boarded and clapboarded, on the
boards lra pointed and matched. but many
ohl barn are aoon ln oIl part ot the coun-
Try with The covering boards nalpd un
with crack between Them from an eighth
fpa hail nch IN width. Perhaps they were
and closer when they We're put on, but
either on account OF the boards being lIn-
easoned, on wet, when laId. the oints are
extremely open now. In such stables, we
haVe seen the animals covered by white
iroSt, on snow, on cold mornings when the
mercury was, perhaps. below zero. Now
there can be no profit in keeping animals,
unless they are we'll fed and well protect
II from the inclemenrins of the weather
1t requires q certain amount of food to
maintain present condition, to repair the
wastes of the body, and TO keep up the an
NAL heat, II more food is given than is
required for these three purposes, the body
will grow larger, or latter, or it may pro-
dnce milk in the COW, or labor in the OK.
The profit derived from keeping animals
must all come from that food which is giv-
en- above the amount required for main
tanning present condition. If an animal is
kept in a barn so cold that large proper
ton Of its food is used no in maintaining
animal heat, there can be little or no pro-
lit realized on the food consumed. 1t is
like trying to keep warm before a fire in
the open air One may burn wood with
out stint. and yet fail to be comfortable
But, shut off the cold air by tight walls,
and the heat from the fire is utilized.
Every warm blooded animal converts a
portion of its food into heat, and the more
we can save this animal heat by the use
of boards, the less food will be required
and as boards are cheaper than hay for
keeping animals warm, it will pay to use
them pretty freely.
A great deal of cold may be kept out of
old stables by sheathng up on the inside
from the floor to the scatfolds, with
matched boards, Cheap. sappy, unplaned
boards will answer a good purpose for
such inside work, if the edges are jointed
and matched Such work may be done by
almost any common laborer who can use
saw, hammer and plane, and if taken
under cover one can keep warm at such
work almost any day in winter.
One great drawback to the profits of
farming, in our latitude, is the long, cold
winter. when we are obliged to consume
the stores laid up in summer, but if we
would take n little more pains in prepar-
ing for cold weather, and in protecting
ourselves and our cattle, our profits would
be increased more than we might at first
suppose. So we say again, our barns are
too cold, and it will pay to make them
warmer. Boards are cheaper than hay
N. +. Farmer.