The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-08-26
HEALTHFUL STABLES,
LaeAs and Air Essential to the Well. BE
Ing Of Animals.


Ing Of Animals.
Farmers stables are rarely construct.
ed with.a view totheir sealthfulness; are
usually deficient in light, ventilation
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 ventilation.
Stables thus closely built do not admit
of free circulation of air, consequently
they become filled with foul air, impreg-
mated with the pungent vapors arising
from manure, which, constantly
breathed, irritates the mucus mem.
branes of the throat and lungs, and
keeps them in more or less infiamed
condition. And if drainage is INSULT
Gent, and absorbents are not supplied,
the floor becomes filed with urine
saturated manure which increases these
disgraceful vapors.
Stables should be built on somewhat
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 a
low, close one. But it is better to have
good floors. Wood floors of thick solid
material do well enough. The aoor
should have slight inclination 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 Che
floor at the rear should be placed q
gutter to receive and carry off the
liquids to the manure pile. If good
and lasting floor be desired, concrete il
the most economical in the long ruin.
These, too, should have a few inches
inclination to the rear with drains tc
serve the purpose of carrying off the
liquids. The following method make:
good concrete floor:
Take out the earth to about a foot il
depth. fill in with coarse gravel; smooth
this off to a proper grade, say fou
inches in ten feet. Upon this put small
stones-cobble stones--and press dow
solid, making drains where required
Over this, when raised up sufficiently
high and firm, spread a layer Of NOR
tar, press in the top of this, when hal
dry, some sand, and to add to the thick
ness and durability of the floor, more
mortar and sand may be put on; in
stead of mortar, some use gas tar, ther
finish off with sand. Stables are oftel
built too low, or in other words the lof
or floor overhead, is put down too low
This floor should be at least eight fee
high; it gives better ventilation, an
instead of letting the light and al
struggle in as best it may through small
apertures, there should be made on
or two long windows reaching we'll u
to the ceiling or upper floor. The sas,
in. them should be swung on pivots il
the middle. SO that the sash may d
swung out at top; this gives bette
ventilation, the vapor within escspin
ut top, and the fresh air admitted a
bottom. The windows should be /
front, Is side lights are hurtful to tn
eyes of stock, especially if there be n
light on the opposite side. 1t costs bu
little more either of money or la Dor t
erect such comfortable stables, an
certainly nothing is lost by it. Th
proper saving of the manure in thi
way, the ammonia that otherwis
would he lost, repays much, beside
the advantage and profit arising frol
having good, sound, healthy stock.
James l. Baird, in Ohio Farmer.