The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-08-27
HEALTHFUL STABLES.
Light and Air Essential tn the Well.Be-
Ing Of Animals.

LvKnt 0nO AT E986Uut0l III TIE V0usnC-
ing Of Animals.
Farmers stables are rarely construct
ed witha view to their healthfulness: 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 a more or less infiamed
condition. And if drainage is INSULT
Gent. and absorbents are not supplied,
the floor becomes filled with urine
saturated manure which increases these
disgraceful vapors.
Stables should be built on somewhat
elevated ground; if low and fiat,
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 inclination from
front ia he 1,o%.
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 a
gutter to receive and carry off the
liquids to the manure pile. If good
and lasting floor be desired. concrete is
the most economical in the long ruin.
These, too, should have a few inches
inclination to the rear with drains to
serve the purpose of carrying off the
liquids. The following method makes
. good concrete floor:
Take out the earth to about foot in
depth. fill in with coarse 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 layer of NOR
tar, press in the top Of this, when half
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, then
finish off with sand. Stables are often
built too low, or in other words the loft
or floor overhead. is put down too low.
This floor should be at least eight feet
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 well 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 admitted 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. 1t costs but
little more either of money or labor to
erect such comfortable 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 arising from
having good, sound, healthy stock
James l. Baird, in Ohio Farmer