West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-01-27
FARM NOTES.
An underground Mllkhouse.

UemdR, ueScrlDeS COh'eh'Su1 NUN
house: An underground milkhouse
should be made twelve feet deep in
dry, we'll drained ground, or on a
hillside of suitable character. The
lower part should be nine feet deep
and walled with brick or stone. One
twelve feet square will be ample for
a dairy of twenty COWS or less.
Beams are laid in the walls for the
floor of the upper cellar. a trap
door and an open stairway is made
in this floor at one side, and square
opening in the center, covered with
glass, to admit some light. This
opening is protected with a safe rail
ing. The shelves are ranged around
three sides, the other side being oc-
cupied by the stairway and a table
or bench. The wall is kept white
by an occasional whitewashing or
kalsomining, and this keeps the eel
lar sweet. If the air becomes damp
at any time, a peck of fresh lime
may be placed in it, and as it will
absorb seven pounds of water and
still be dry, it will be found very
useful in maintaining the requisite
moderate moisture of the air. The
ehurning may be done in the upper
cellar. which is three feet below the
ground level and has board rOofto
protect it from the sun. The win
dow should be on the north side,and
a ventilating door should be made
in the ceiling Of this room. If the
cellar should become too warm at
any time the air may be cooled by
carrying into it a block of ice; any
moisture in the air which may be
condensed by this decrease of tenn
perature will be quickly taken up by
the lime. Experience will suggest
any desirable improvement upon
this plan, which has been found to
work excellent and to keep very
regular temperature during the hot
test weather. 1t is necessary TO be
cautious in ventilating such a eel
lar. In the day time, when it should
be kept closed, and if left open at
any time it should be on clear,
breezy night.
Get Ready for Matching Time.
If you intend Matching your
chicks in the spring with a view to
getting them early TO market when
prices are high, it is time now to
make preparations. In the South,
by using a little care, Matching may
commence in February, and as we
get further North in March. In the
North chicks may be Matched most
successfully in March by means of
an incubator and a brOoder But a
warm, equable place must be pro
vided for the chicks. A little fire
heat in the apartment where the
chicks are raised will assist mate
rally. But to be successful in rails
ing chicks for market, the eggs of
thrifty, fast growing early-feather-
ing fowls must be selected, and the
eggs therefrOm must be kept sepa-
rate from those intended for eating,
it, as is generally the case, the fowls
are of mixed blood, generally found
in barn yards. If you have not an
improved breed, it will pay at least
to secure improved males for mating
with the hens. While it is cOmpar
atively easy to hatch chickens in
March even in the North, by pro
viding warm broOding place for
the hen. the labor is lost if the
young chicks are not provided with
warm quarters for at least the first
month of their lives. If intended
for brOilers, it is essential that they
be fed with a variety Of food, rich
in matter that will nOurish growth
i'm flesh and bone as we'll as in fat.
The framework must be laid before
fattening process begins. II this is
secured a very short time will then
fit them FOR the market.
Co-J,,, Cto~L,