Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-23
AT THE HOSPITAL.
New Cow Barn Is Now Rapidly
Nearing Completion.
Plenty Of Room for Accommodation
of One Hundred Head.
Admirable Sanitary Arrangements That Will
Insure Pure Milk Supply.

-" win vi tHe new hospital farm
barn has progressed rapidly and it will
probably be completed by the first of
November, if not sooner than then.
George o. Cony, the farm superintend-
ent, said to a Journal man, 1T Is en-
couragiDg to feel that we shall SO soon
have quarters for the COWS which will
enable us to handle them in every way so
much better than has been possible in the
past, where the barns were scattered and
facilities poor.
The sanitary conditions of the new
barn will make it possible to keep the
COWS and their surroundings perfectly
clean. The lighting and ventilation could
not be better, and the sanitary system in
the new building will do much towards
securing perfectly pure milk.
II have always felt that the greatest
possible cleanliness was of great import
ance In handling mich COWS and shall
see to it that not only shall the building
and the animals be kept clean but that
the men shall carefully wash their hands
before milking, morning and night.
Under the old conditions this was not
easy, and, at best, was not SO practicable
as will be under the new regime, when
the very best facilities are right on the
spot. Everything will be so different
from the old system that we shall be able
to handle our work much easier.
1.-THE old barns at least part Of them,
can be removed and the land ON which
they stood be graded; and this will, of
coures, entirely change the scene to the
southwark of the hospitals. " In other
words what before was a lot of rickety
out buildings and barn yards will be a
lawn, green and grassy.
The COW barn proper extends north and
south with wings at either end. These
wings are twins. They will be used fer
storing hay, grain and other fodder. In
fact there has beeen $50 tons of hay put
away in the lofts and ensilage Is being
made at the rate of 40 tons, daily, and
hoisted from the cutting machines into the
three of these silos large enough to con-
tain about 100 tons apiece. The crop of
corn used for ensilage this year is large,
but as the number of COWS has been in
creased from rs to 100, it is estimated
that it will last about the same length
of time as last year, from Dec lst when
the COWS 90 into winter quarters, until
about the first of March.
The brick building which joins these
wings Is about 200 feet in length and
| will easily accommodate 100 cows placed
| in two rows facing each other. This
| building is high posted and admirably
| lighted by two rows Of windows arranged
at short intervals on either side, one on
the main floor and the other in the roof
| Five great galvanized iron ventilators
will give vent to all bad air and keep
proper circulation. This building Il Of
brick with slate roof and separated from
the wing barns by brick walls and fire
proof iron doors.
The COWS will be kept on either side of
this building, facing the main passage
way running through the center, from
end TO end. Modern troughs which can
he easily cleaned Will be adopted.
| One of the most important systems in,
troduced in this barn is that which pro
vides the best possible sanitary condi-
tions. The manure will fall into gutter
which will slope from either end TO tne
center. 1t can thus be scraped to one exit
,,hore n can fall into Il cart and be taken
ldaiIy from the building to some place on
tho farm where it can he made into
comnact heap and be used for fertilizine
purposes. -,
rbo building will he well supplied WITT
water so all that is necessary TO secure
cleanliness Will be to turn on the nose
T,,., sbeds to the west of the long bricF
cow harm at either end, will furnish &C
concentrations for COWS with calves
In the upper sections of the ell barns
omar ters for the employees are built fur
nisbed with all the accommodations y
a modern apartment
On the east side of the main section
/, ward will he laid out, extenaing TIL
t 18th NJ the main building and 100 lee
/, o. hreadtb. This yard will lie inolosed o!
: .oo ,nd will afford an excellen
o -un for the cows in winter.
Speaking of crops, Mr. Cony saio'
: is difficult to make any oehhi'e e,'''
ments, but speaking approAiina'e,s
should say that the hay crop Will De aoo o'
? a5o tons, 100 short of last years Que 10 :"
dryness of the season. -oo ,,,o,s .
There will to about 700 bushels o
oats; and I should judge about s" S Nv
,nshe,s of potatoes, 800 more than las
:, wears crop. .r