The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-17

If one had all the land that is now
wasted in barnyards in a single county
of Indiana he would be worth more
money than twenty average farmers of
the state. taking the assessed valuation
OF their property as a basis. OF course
one would want all these small parcels
OF land showed up against each other
with no cracks between, but this is all
one would need in this world that he
could not get by himself. He would
have not only the cream OF the land. but
also a good slice Of 1t. Fashions change.
but the old-fashioned barnyard, revei-
Ling IN mud and manure from two TO
twenty inches deep, remains with US as
a reminder Of other days when land was
worth IS per acre and manure was an
4ncumbrance.
Our fathers made those spacious lots
around the barn, and you see, we can
not think it possible 10 change them.
Like a hill or a monument, we nave
come to view them as a permanent feat
ure, and If we make a home on new
piece Of land we must make It appear
hOme-like by making several lots or
yards Of liberal dimensions. We can re
member when il was supposed to be an
absolute necessity on our farms TO turn
the horses into a half-acre lot every
winter day and let them plaster them
selves with mud. only to be rubbed off
the next morning and the performance
repeated. The horses needed exercise,
you know, and they got IL running in
slippery lot, wrestling with each other
and falling broadsides when slip was
made.
Under the old dispensauon we had
four lots around our barn, because the
barn had four sides. This was probably
the reason We dispensed with three of
them. and now one lot as much az is
needed 1t Is kept covered with straw
a big stack stands in the center OF it
and no kind of stock except horses
when at work ever touch the earth dur
ing the winter. All the manure from
horses. colts. cows. etc, IS saved, as II
falls on the straw when the stock IS not
in the stalls. In a large shed adjoining
the stable is the water. Different KINDS
of stock in their turn can have several
hours in this straw yard for exercise and
water This is all that is needed, unless
it be on the stock farms, where stall
feeding cannot be practtced. or at least
is not
Warm and well ventilated stalls are
the place for stock the most of the time
An winter and a lot sixty feet square
that is kept dry and that has a good
fence six feet high around it, Is safer
place for eight or ten horses to get good,
fresh air and exercise than is muddy
lot or an acre or more. If the lot be big
enough for racing about damage will be
done; If one horse be vicious ii can do
as much kicking in a big lot as in
small one and is more apt to do II. Such
animals should be kept stalled or else
sold to your neighbOr.
We can never save manure right as
long as large yards are used. They are
costly and unsightly. They now contain
the best land on the farms, as the stock
has stood on and in them since the
farm was first occupied. If the fences
be pulled down and the land thrown into
adjoining fields, II Will bring big crops
of corn, potatoes or hay, instead of pro-
ducing the champion weeds Of the dis
trict. The premises are made more
slightly and are more easily kept So
Since the idea is pretty we'll exploded
that any kind Of stock needs to stand
bumped up in a northeastern between
meals TO give il an appetite we can see
our way clear for having clean, we'll
becded lot for watering the stock, and
let the stock use il In turns. The aban-
doned lots may lead to greater Overpro-
duction in this country, but it is for this
that all of Us labor.