Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-16
BARN CONSTRUCTION.
secretary mckeen Issues a Bulletin Devoted
to the Subject.

|
over the State and from some Of them h
has had plans drawn that are in the bul
letin.
Mr.. Mckeen says in his opening re
| marks:
we take up the subject of barn con
struction this month, hoping our reader,
may be able to get some valuable idea,
from the remarks of those who have IA
vored us with their thoughts on the sub
Jcct. we believe this to be one of the vi
tai questions now before the farmers OF
| our State, because as successful ooricul,
ture depends upon live stock husbandrv
| so does stock husbandry depend upor
| convenient, healthfu quarters for the an
lmals The more the question of infec-
tious diseases, which may be transmitted
from animals to man, are studied. the
more united people are becoming on the
idea that the hysienic question is the all
important one. The more this is forced
TO the front then the better for our farm
ers. Their from an economic standpoin,
u IS OF value because no herd can be
profitable unless it is healthy herd. and
no herd can be Kept long in health unless
surrounded by healthful conditions. The
tlInity of health-giVing influences is com
Portable quarters, pure air. and sunlight
Any system of barn construction which
accomplishes these results. unless too *
pensive, is to be commended. We would
not build the large castle-like barn. if we
We're 10 begin new, but would rather built
barn for the storage Of fodder. includ
ing always. the silo. This barn should ex-
tend. if possible, east ana west. Then
from the middle Of the south side W.
would extend an ell, wide enough for two
rows Of cows, standing with their heads
together. with feeding floor between.
This ell can be made Of sufficient length
70 accommodate the number of animals
which II is desired to keep. II should he
left open into the roof and there need ~,
no partitions between the animals and
the feeding floor. as there being but ono
story TO the building. there will be but lit.
lie extra roof room TO warm. There can
be basement for manure Or not. az Thu
owner may desire. Ii plans are made for
the basement, let il be as much above
ground as possible, ana there should b.
NentilatinG shafts run from near the bot.
tom to the point Of the roof ana out In
the cupola or in some other way
With these conditions observed. and
with plenty Of absorbents, intelligently
used, there need never be any fear of tho
apartments above becoming contaminatei
with foul air. In relation to the arrange
ments for tying, we would heartily re-
commend the modified Hoard stall. as
first used in this State at the Maine ex-
pertinent station. We have used these
stalls for the past two years. and oui |
cows are today as clean as though they
had not been in barn for the winter
Cows with white hips and TANKS. which |
in an ordinary tie-up kept continually |
filthy, even with the greatest care. have
been completely conquered ana now are
standing without a STAIN even on flank or |
side, and with switches perfectly free
from all indications Of dirt of any kind |
With these stalls. the high platform is |
avoided, and the COW lies AT ease on bed |
ding held in place by the heel piece"
which also serves to protect her when |
lying down. as it helps sustain the hind |
quarters when the animal is heavy IT. |
calf. Each COW is fitted to a stall just to |
suit her size ana habits. without chang |
ing the length of the floor or making the !
crib in front uneven. Care should be TAX
enrt to have the floor even, flush with the |
forward side of the crib, so that grain |
ana siage may be fed there, ana so thai
there shall be no obstruction to prevent
the COW from lying down well up in the
forward part Of the stall. We reprint
cuts Of these stalls, taken from the re-
port Of the Maine experiment station for
1896.
We append the usual summary of the
condition of the crops, etc, with the re-
marks of our correspondents on barn con
struction. In regard to barn cellars, We
may say that fifteen correspondents al
vocate barn cellars: three think favor
ably of them if kept dry and light; two
advocate them for manure only; one advo-
Gates cellar under part of barn; one
would have part Of cellar for manure.
ana part for storage Of farming tools;
while four strongly disapprove Of cellars
for any use.
The summary of the crop conditions OF
the State is as follows:
Condition of grass fields. generally very
good: but little killing reported
Season about the same as last year. Clio
YER has wintered well in most sections of
the State Acreage of grain. as com
pared with last year 100 per cent. Condi-
ton Of fruit trees as compared with last
year. 1902 per cent. Condition OF plum
trees ana other small fruits, 100 per cent
Local market prices: hay, 1885 $3.50 1899
s. 90; potatoes, 1898. 20 cents, 1899, "A cents;
cream. 1898 Is cents, 1899 Is cents; apples
1898. 9S cents 1899, s1.15; poultry, 1898, L
cents. 1899. Is cents; eggs. 1895 II cents.
1899. Is cents: butter, 1898, IS cents, 1899.
is cents; cows. 1895 $35, 1899. $3S; sheep,
1895. $3.25, 1899. s3.75; wool, 1898, IS cents,
1899 Il cents.
Great catches of trout in Lake Ma
are rnnOrted.