Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-04-28
ADVANTAGES OF BOX STALLS FOR COWS.

ADVANTAGES OF BOX STALLS FOR COWS.
Even with scrupulous daily cleaning
out of the manure and bedding with
straw, a majority Of the cows kept in
stalls come out in tae spring with TANKS,
legs and briskets covered with manure
balls, looking filthy in the extreme,
writes L. 3. Pierce, of OHIO. Wat
manure does not adhere to the cows is
in too many cases thrown out under the
caves, to leach and waste. Where only
one or two cows are kept, the remedy is
a simple box stall, doing away with all
filth and waste, and the saving in bed
ding is considerable.
The writer keeps two COWS in a stable,
ten by twelve feet, the manger running
across the narrow way, takes off two
feet, making the floor area ten feet
square. A single upright standard of
two by four inch scantling, retaining the
front Of the mauger at the middle and
giving the COWS an equal chance at the
fodder, Is the only restraint of any kind
upon the perfectly free movements of the
cows. This freedom Of action IS the
secret Of their cleanliness, there being,
after four months stabling, not half
pound of manure adhering to both COWS.
The manure IS mostly dropped behind
the COWS as they stand at the manger,
forming slight ridge about midway Of
the stable. One cow lies along side Of
the manger, and the other at the rear
of the stable, parallel with the manger.
Both COWS lie upon their right sides,
bringing their heads in opposite
directions. The manure is leveled
twice daily, and in the morning the
remnants of cut cornstalks and
other refuse found in the man
ger are scattered over it, and at night
they have bed of straw. The manure
is not taken out until spring, and packs
hard and solid without q particle Of
waste. Last year I used the COW stable
as a receptacle for the horse manure dur
ing the busy season of berry picking,
when we had rot time to draw it di-
rectly on the land, and the COWS stood
on this until about Thanksgiving when
we got it out and put in a mass Of leaves
to start anew. Two weeks later we put
in the COWS for the winter, fastening the
door so it could not be easily or care
Iessly opened. The cows were kept there
nearly four months and came out in the
spring fat, happy, jolly and clean. The
manure was like plug tobacco, brown
and solid, and worth at least double as
much, pound for pound, as manure
thrown out on a heap in the usual man
ner.
Where the COWS are strange or vicious,
two could not be kept together, and in
large diaries it might not be practicable
for want Of room, although two might
be kept in stall SKIP feet, which
would be but little more space than would
lie allotted them if kept tied in separate
stalls. In villages and suburban homes,
however, this system IS worthy of trial,
as there is no pile OF manure outside and
40 offensive smell, as the hard packing
of the manure prevents fermentation.
An area Of 12x7 feet would be enough
for one COW, it being essential that the
stall be wide enough for the COW to lie
cro5sways or parable! with the ma1ger,
this beng the secret Of her keeping clean.
With two COWS kept on a floor i0X1O
feet or less, with plenty of bedding, the
manure will become two to three feet
Thick IN four months, and it is nee assary,
after two months, to put an extra board
On the front OF the manger, and a false
bottom, the bottom being simply board
cut to tit and nailed to the edges of
some ks feet scantling to raise it from
the real bottom. The false bottom and
front can be laid away for another year
when not III use.-American Agri-
cuIturist.
EAPM AID CAnnr,- ,-nr-n