Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-10
HOME COURSE IN
MODERN AGRICULTURE
XVI.--Far,1, BUILDINGS
BY C. v. GREGORY,
Agricultural Division, Iowa State College /,
Copyright. 1908, by American Press Association


roof, little further drainage will be
needed. 1t is wasteful to allow the
liquid manure to drain away and be
lost, and it causes unnecessary work
to drain it into manure pit>and haul
it to the places where it is needed
in a water tight wagon. A much
better plan is to use bedding enough to
absorb it all. There win always be
plenty of this at hand III the form OF
straw, shredded fodder and spoiled
hay. By this plan all the fertilizing
value of the liquid manure will be
saved with small amount of work
A litter carrier or wheelbarrow is
great help in cleaning out the
stables. When litter carrier is used
the manure spreader may be left
standing in the yard and filed direct
from the carrier. Whenever it gets
full the manure may be hauled out
and spread where it is most needed.
In this way it reaches the fields with
small amount Of loss
A point that should be looked after
in the construction of the barn. and
one that is too often neglected, is pro-
vision for sufficient light. Not only
does plenty Of light make the barn a
more convenient place to work, but it
also keeps the stock healthier by dis
couraging the growth Of bacteria. The
horse stable especially should be well
lighted, since horses are liable to have
their sight injured by being kept in a
dark barn.
Aloug With light should come plenty
of ventilation. By having the windows
swing inward from the top and provid.
Ing triangular boards to close the open.
ings at the sides the incoming current
of fresh air Will be directed upward
against the ceiling and distributed
over the stable without causing draft.
Cupolas may be placed On the roof to
carry off the impure air. A cheaper
method is to leave some of the rafters
unlocked at the lower ends.
In case there are many dairy cows or
young animals to be fed silo is al
most a necessity. 1t should be located
at the end of the barn nearest the COW
stable in order to lessen the work of
feeding. By having the yard for the
young cattle close to the silo they can
be fed from 1t with little extra work.
a silo sixteen feet in diameter and
thirty feet high is about the right size
for 100 acre farm. The diameter
should always be small enough so that
two or three inches can be fed off the
top each day. This insures fresh silage
all the time. The greater number Of
filos in use at present are made of
wooden slaves. These are cheap, and
if a good quality Of wood is used they
will last long time. Cement and
brick silos are practically tndestructi-
BILE, but are rather expensive. A new
type Of silo that is proving very salts
This material is as cheap as slaves and
lasts as long as cement.
For the young stock, fattening cattle
and sheep cheap sheds furnish ample
shelter. These can be made Of COM
mon boards well battened, with strong
cedar posts for framework. The roof
should be water tight. A twelve foot
opening on the south will answer the
purpose Of door.
These sheds should be on high, well
drained ground and must be kept well
bedded. When this is done they are
fully as good as a more expensive
shelter. A separate lambing house
. will, Of course, have to be provided for
the ewes as spring approaches.
For the man who is making spe-
cialty of hogs the colony system" of
hog houses is probably the best. For
the average farmer. however, the extra
amount OF WORT. which this system in
wolves more than outweighs it's advan.
tages of cleanliness. freedom from dis
ease and keeping the hogs in smaller
punches. On most farms the central
hog house comes nearest to meeting
the reauire-aer+s Along with it a few