Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-02-26
BARN CELLARS.

Since your invitation OF Dec. 6tn, 10
the readers of the Farmer for their
opinions for or against barn cellars,
quite number have complied with your
] request with nicely written communica-
tions from actual experience, all OF
which has been In favor of barn cellars.
/ To the casual observer Ii would seem as
though there was little or nc chance for
an opposing argument.
Eve been waiting for some one to take
up Brother Ninton's side of this ques-
I ton. but no one cares To thus far, so II
| YOU will allow. | would like 10 say
word on the subject. | am not the own
er Of barn cellar and unless | change
INV mind greatly, | don't care 20 be the
possessor of one. Perhaps some one on
the off side of the question will say,
THAT fellow don't know what he Is
talking about"
have eyes TO see and ears 10 hear,
and have the same advantages OF learn
ing by observation AS those who own
barn cellars. The statement has been
made that barn cellar afforded large
amount OF store room at small hrst cost
which must otherwise be provided by
other aud more costly structures, OF
words To that effect. Now II this state
ment was exactly reversed II would tell
the thing Just as II Is. IL Is misleading.
IL is unreasonable. have had an eNpe-
rience of nearly twenty years In the
building business. fancy | know lit
tie something what such work costs
compared with wood construction.
cellar built with granite walls, as tue
most of them are, Is an expensive Shair
and is out Of the reach of the farmer oil
moderat, means.
Then there i another extra expense
iu connection with barn cellar. The
main floor i generally from four to six
feet from the ground and IN order TO
reach this. ,tone-wsll,d drives have To
De built ard MANY of them are pretty
sharp grades which makes extremely
hard work for horses especially In nay
ing time, when We want 10 load heavily.
All of this i done away with when
your barn sits down on the ground.
The principal objection 10 a barn cellar
is its unhealthlrluess as place tor
stock OF any kind, whether they are
kept in the cellar or the barn over II. n
reference 10 "Agricola's" communica-
ton will tell YOU This.
Veutilaie a. you please you cannot
make IL a. healthtul as barn without
cellar. and will venture 10 make The
statement that six out OF every eight
cases Of tuberculosis are found Ia barns
with cellars or easements under them,
and this brings to my mind one of the
points brought on; at the late meeting OF
the Massachusetts, Board of Agriculture,
which was that Barn Cellars are not
Desirable" This speaks volumes
against barn cellars when We stop to
consider that in Massachusetts, to-day
the leading agriculturists are busy try
ing To tiud out the cause of 80 many
cases of tuberculosis within its borders
MANY Of the writers thus far seem 10
have the idea in their heads that IN order
to save all the dressing, both liquid and
solid. YOU must have barn cellar sure,
no other receptacle will do. Now a
more absurd idea never existed. liz you
save II al, what more Is there 10 save:
- a liberal amount of bedding under
YOUR stock, a. every farmer should nse.
Put your horse manure In the trench be-
hind your cattle TO absorb the liquid
manure. then shovel il all out into warm,
well-ligh;ed and well-ventilated one
rooted hog sheds, running along the
sides Of your barn. With stone floors,
aud the walls planked up and down to |
protect the frame, with plenty of hogs
10 work it over, aud good common sense
i enough 10 convince any one that YOU
can save IL all, and that AT one-hali the
cost of the same capacity Of your gran
H.. mo- vNHft
Ming up and down stairs, your work i
all on one floor.
Then again look aud see who the farm |
ers are thpt have barn cellars; only the
weslthv can afford them. believe In
advocating convenience and necessities
that are within the reach OF the farmers
af moderate means, especially II they
ausW er the same purpose OF The more
costly affairs s-Corre.p .poudent of Maine
Farmer.