Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-29
Dai!p Kfnnetfr 5nurnal.
Open Barns.


If there is any one thing, as rule, that
the Maine farmer is particular about it is
the condition of his dwelling house AS
regards its fitness for winter habitation
for himself and family; and generally
farmers houses, even if not prepossessing
outwardly, are warm and comfortable
structures wellnigh impervious to the
cold. But while the farmer endeavors TO
live in a warm house he not infrequently
ignores the fact that his barn is an old
tumble-down building. open to the wealth
er and totally unsuited to one of the pur-
poses, if not the chief purpose, for which
it was intended. namely. as shelter for
his stock from the inclemency of the
weather. In riding through the country
barns of this description are often seen;
barns with gaping cracks on the sides and
open beneath the sills. so that the cold
winds can have free access, and drawing
up underneath and in front of the animals
through the cracks in the tieup floor make
their condition even more miserable than it
would be with simply an open barn above;
barns out of repair, erected by the first
settlers and which have never been clap
boarded or shingled, excepting on their
roofs; barns the tieups in which are
without protection or boarding other than
that given by the open walls OF the build
ing itself. To winter animals in such
structures as these in eur rigorous climate
is barbarous and inhuman.
But aside from the cruelty, the unproft-
ableness of such a course should restrain
any man from following it. A certain
temperature must be maintained in the
body of every animal if the creature lives.
Let it fall much below the normal for
even short time and the animal dies.
This temperature which in cattle is
SO degrees is largely supported bv
the food taken into the stomach. The
TODD. certain portion of it. may be said
to burn up, and by its combustion furnish
the animal heat that warns the animal.
Now, if stock is kept in an open barn
such as we have been talking about.
where the mercury will often fall to zero or
below, the animals must consume largely
increased amount of food, must burn more
fuel to keep their temperature at nor
NAL standard than they would were they
housed in comfortable stable. This
additional food means the feeding out of
more provender, more hay, both of which
take money from the farmers pocket.
The cost of any repairs, it will be seen.
made on barn and rendering it warmer
would soon be returned in the difference
between the decreased amount of food
consumed by the stock and that which
would have been eaten had not repairs
been effected. If a man has not the means
to clapboard or shingle his barn. then he
can handily board up his tieup, battening up
the cracks and interstices. This will answer
every purpose if thoroughly done. Care
should be exercised however, to provide
adequate ventilation, for if is highly inju-
rious to the health of any creature TO
breathe foul, unwholcsome air, especial
ly such as would be contained in nearly
air-tight stable occupied by farm animals.
Do not forget to make all tight under
the sills. If there is stone wall under
meath built up of cobble stones, then bank
up with dirt or other material Sheathe
the sides of your barn with paper and
clapboard it in the most workmanlike
manner; but leave holes and apertures
IN the foundation walls so that boreas can
creep in under floors and the building
will always be an uncomfortable one.