The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-11-06
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
WHAT THE FARMERS STABLE
OUGHT TO BE.
Honlthfol Stables Far Too Few-Money
to Be Made From Nuts-Breed-
ing Turkeys-Farm Notes
and Home Hints.
Healthful Stables.


Farmers stables are rarely con-
structed with view to healthfulness;
are usually deficient in light. ventila-
ton and drainage. These defects give
rise to much evil to animals confined
In them and disorders of some kind
are likely to result. Want of light or
light in struggling rays from various
small inlets Injuries the eyesight and
where there is insufficient light, there
is almost surely insufficient ventila-
ton. Stables thus closely built do
not admit of free circulation of air.
consequently they become filed with
foul air. impregnated with~the pun
gent vapors arising from manure,
which constantly breathed, irritates
the mucous membranes of the throat
and lungs, and keeps them in a more
or less infamed condition And if
drainage is insufficient, and absorbents
are not supplied. the floor becomes
filed with urine-s saturated manure
which increases these disagreeable
vapors.
Stables should be built on some
what elevated ground; if low and fat
the site should be well-drained; this
would be well if done in any case.
Where no other than an earth floor is
had, absorbents should be used in
abundance, especially if the stable be
q low, close one. But it is better to
have good floors. Wood floors of
thick, solid material, do well enough.
The floor should have slight inclina-
ton from front to rear, the seams
between the planks covered with other
plank, to prevent the liquids getting
beneath the floor. Underneath the
terminus of the floor at the rear should
be placed gutter to receive and car
ry off the liquids to the manure pile.
If good and lasting floor be desired,
concrete is the most economical in
the long run. These, too, should have
few inches inclination to the rear
with drains to serve the purpose of
carrying off the liquids. The follow
ing method makes a good concrete
floor:
Take out the earth to about foot
in depth, fill in with course gravel;
smooth this off to proper grade, say
four inches in ten feet. Upon this
put small stones-cobble stones-and
press down solid. making drains where
required. Over this, when raised up
sufficiently high and firm, spread a
layer of mortar, press In the top of
this, when half dry, some sand and
to add to the thickness and durability
of the floor, more mortar and sand
may be put on; instead of mortar,
some use gas tar, then finish off with
sand. Stables are often built too low,
overhead is put down too low. This
floor should be at least eight feet
high; it gives better ventilation, and
instead of letting the light and air
struggle in as best it may through
small apertures there should be made
one or two long windows reaching
we'll up to the ceiling or upper floor
The sash in them should be swung on
pivots in the middle, so that the sash
may be swung out at top; this gives
better ventilation, the vapor within
escaping at top and the fresh air ad-
mitted at bottom. The windows
should be in front, as side lights are
hurtful to the eyes of stock, especially
if there be no light on the opposite
side. It costs but little more either of
money or labor to erect such comfort
able stables. and certainly nothing is
lost by it. The proper saving of the
manure in this way the ammonia that
otherwise would be lost repays much
besides the advantage and profit aris-
ing from having good, sound, healthy
stock. Ohio Farmer.