The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-03-13
The Dairymen's Meeting---No. 2.

In Mr.. Macphersons address, near
the end, he was made to say that after
the cheese is put to press it should be
"pressed hard at first" 1t should
have been "not pressed hard at first."]
Mr.. Macpherson's remarks upon
barns interested his hearers very much.
He advanced some novel ideas, and his
plans are well worth consideration by
those who propose TO build or remodel
their cow-barns. He made the claim
which our readers are not unfamiliar
with, that the winter work is the one that
which determines largely the profits of
the farm. The condition of our cows,
that which determines the profit to be de-
rived from the herd, is thing that must
be secured during the winter. When we
remember the wretched condition in
which the majority of the cows of New
England were (not so very long ago.
turned out in the spring, it is not so
much wonder that they averaged so
little butter per COW, as it is that they
were alive at all. If we read our local
newspapers along in April, even now,
we may still note the too-frequent &C.
currence of items which inform the
public of the death, in most mysteri-
Gus way, of this or that farmers d" best
cow" 1t is always the " best cow
that is lost Good cows can not stand
the old-fashioned way of wintering.
The old way winnowed out the best
COWS, and left the poorest The new
way proposes to reverse that process,
by supplying the conditions necessary to
develop rather than destroy those good
points which only intelligent and hu.
name care will secure. Mr.. Macpher-
son said:
''The question of barn construction
affects the results of the farm to a much
greater extent than we give it credit
Dairymen and farmers generally con-
slider winter as a great drawback TO
their business. They say they consume
in the winter what they earn in the
summer. That is wrong conception
of agriculture. The farmer should
consume in the summer what he pro-
duces in the winter. hold that the
winter work is one that determines
largely the profits and results of the
farm. The condition of an animal de-
termines its product, whether in milk
or beef. This condition , of the animal
is determined in the winter, when it
stores up health, strength and vitality.
"There are only two products on
farm, namely, plant and animal life.
The health and vigor of each is in large
measure determined by the quality of
food supplied to it. Where is it that
plant food is collected, and the animal
developed in health and vigor? Is it
not in the barn during the winter
months? If this be so, the matter Of
barn construction is of great import
ance. If the cows are in poor health,
their yield will be small. l seek to get
health and vigor in the animals, and TO
increase the fertility of the soil. To
attain the latter end, there should be a
saving of plant food made in the barn.
This should be the first element in the
matter of construction; the second
should be the promotion of the health
of the animal; the third, the saving of
labor, and fourth, cheapness of con-
struction. The health of the animal is
determined by the food it eats, and also
the air it breathes. Ventilation, there
fore, is matter 10 be attended to, and
while it should have fresh air, it must
also have warmth. All the excrements
from the animal, liquid and solid,
should be saved. In Holland, the
liquids are calculated to be worth eleven
to twelve dollars year.
"The most expensive ventilation is
opening the doors and letting your cat
tie out to ventilate the stables. You
must give food to the animal to make
up lost heat. Every animal should
have its proper amount of pure all
every hour of the day. have place
in front of each animal where the fresh
air comes in, and above, over every six
animals, is ventilator to carry off the
lighter, impure air, and in the rear Of
the cattle are places for the heavy gases
to pass down into the basement. Pure
air is supplied to each from spaces il
the barn floor. The cattle are fed from
the barn floor, the hay being above anC
the grain on the sides. There should
be place for straw as well as grain
The straw and ensilage is in front o.
each animal.
"My barn is 76x1OO feet, with tn,
stable in the center, and double rows o
cattle stand facing out toward tn
floors. We hung up the fork AM
shovel long ago, so far as loading ma
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