Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-01-16
Aancaster flltelligellrer.
FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 10, 1880.
NeatneSS at the Barn.
Country Gentleman.

Country Gentleman.
It is not necessary for the farmer to
bnild highly ornamental edifice in order
to have a neat and attractive appearance
in his barn and about his barnyard. Spec
linens of neatness and purity are some
times seen where the owner could afford
only cheap and imperfect structures. The
management depends on the man, not SO
much on the character of his buildings.
Nevertheless, when the owner takes the
pains and incurs the expense of finished
erections, he will be more likely to feel an
interest in keeping every thing in and
about them in good condition.
1t must be confessed that there is great
room for improvement in the majority OF
farmers in this country, although much
progress has been made, and number
happily a very large number-are models
in this respect. We have seen barns and
stables kept as neat as a parlor. Some
men think this is attended with too much
trouble and labor-like the boy who
combed his hair once month, and finding
it difficult and painful, was unable to
comprehend how any one could endure to
do it every day. 1t is not the process Of
cleaning that we recommend, but keeping
clean. A nurseryman was asked how he
killed the weeds in his 35-acre grounds.
81 do not kill them, was his answer &;
81 allow none to enter or grow"
We mention few examples of deficient
care in this particular. Among good
managers the common recommendation
and use OF manure cellars is a frequent
cause of foul air, which moIe or less per-
vades the building, Injuries the sweetness
of the hay, and cOmpcls cattle and horses
to breathe noxious Odors. Manure should
never be kept in a barn basement without
the constant use of absorbent. in the
shape of straw, chopped stalks, sand or
dry peat, to hold all the effluvia. The
difficulty will be much lessened as farmers
learn the advantages of drawing and
spreading manure in winter as we have
frequently recommended, But care is
necessary, even for the small daily accu-
mutation.
No animal is so badly abused as the pig,
in being thrust into apartments which arc
permitted to become polluted from neglect.
The hired man, to whom we gave the pigs
in charge, thought it great hardship that
we required him to clean their floor thor
oughly twice day. But he ultimately
found it much the easiest on the long run,
rs each daily cleaning was a mere nothing.
Pigs are naturally cleanly, if they are only
permitted to be SO, and when comfortably
provided for, thrive better and fatten fas-
ter; and one would think the farmer
would prefer to eat such pork to that taken
out of a manure hole.
Sweep the barn floor often, sweep out
the horse stalls at least twice a day, pro-
vide clean and dry litter for all animals,
give them pure water, let their food he
sweet and nOurishing, avoid all fetid accu-
I04s
cold winds by evergrecns, and keep every
square foot of ground about your build
ings free from offensive rubbish, and you
will not only preserve more self-respect for
this care, but will enjoy the pleasure of
giving comfort to the living creatures un-
der your control, and what is not least in
the eyes of money making managers, you
will derive a greater profit, preserve your
buildings from decay, and have place
that will sell at a higher price if you
should wish to dispose of it.