Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-08-12

blocks SO as to give each an oppor-
tunity to partially harden and set
before the next one is laid. This
prevents adjoining blocks from CO.
menting closely together. thus leav-
ing each block separate from all the
others. After the concrete has been
laid and has partially set put on a
finishing coat made Of two parts Of
6ne sharp sand, and one part Of
Portland cement. The sand and CO.
ment should also be mixed dry and
water enough added after perfect
mixture has been obtained to make
it of such consistency as will allow
it to run in between the particles OF
stone and concrete and form a per-
feet union with the same.
The finishing coat should be
three-fourths of an inch thick in
stables for cattle or animals of light
or weight, and about one inch thick
for horse stable. After the finish
ing coat has partially hardened,
but while it may still be nodded,
break through to the concrete with
. trowel over the joints between the
blocks, smoothing and rounding off
the edges. II this is not done the
finishing coat will be apt to crack.
While the cement is setting keep
wind aud sunshine out of the barn
to prevent it from drying too rapid
ly. In addition to this sprinkle the
floor with water three or four times
a day 30 that it may absorb enough
water for perfect setting.
It is good plan in making q cow
stable floor to begin with the gutter.
This should be at least eight inches
deep and IA inches wide when fin
ished and a thicker finishing coat
should be applied. We would build.
the stalls two inches higher than
the floor behind the gutter. Thus
the gutter would be eight inches
high on the upper side and six
inches high on the lower. AS to the
width of the gutter, there is a differ
ence of opinion. some claiming that
it should not be less than l8 inches
though IA inches ought to be wide
enough. 1t is a great deal better,
however, to have the gutter little
too large than too small. When
building the edges of the size gut.
ter mentioned, an eight-inch plank
will be needed on the upper side
and six-inch one on the lower. The
bottom may be made after the sides
have been built. The gutter should
have gradual slope to one end of
the barn, but this need not exceed
one inch in fifty feet, thus on the
upper end make it triae shallow
er than mentioned and on the lower
end trifle deeper. The stalls them
selves should not slope in that di-
rection. Cow stalls should have a
slight slope from the front toward
the rear. This need not exceed one
half inch. In other words, cows
front feet should not stand more
than one.half inch higher than her
hind feet. 4 medium sized COW re-
quires q stall four feet eight inches
long from the stanchion to the edge
of the Rutter-a small or q large
cow triflle shorter or longer stall.
Before laying the floor definite
plan should be worked out with
reference to the kind of stalls that
are to be used and tie should be
selected by means Of which the stall
can be Heightened or shortened te
suit the cow. A stall that is toe
short for the COW is just as object
ionable as one that is too long
There il only one way to obtain
| satisfaction from stall and that il
to have exact length Of the COW
Do not smooth the cement eithel
in the stall or the walk behind il
too much. In finishing the surfac,
use straightedge made from un.
surfaced lumber and draw this owe.
the surface leaving it trifle rough
Fit is made perfectly smooth th,
floor will become slippery and con
sequently somewhat dangerous fol
the cattle, especially in winter whel
they come into the barn with snoy
: on their feet. The feed alley may
be smoothed as desired.-Farmer'
Tribune.