Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-03-12

distance. If the yards and manure
piles are on the side away from the
house. as they should be.
The basement type Of barn, though
In use to some extent, is not very pop
ular, even on farms where it can be
easily built. The lower part is damp
and dark, and 1t Is difficult to secure
proper drainage. These disadvantages
make it desirable to construct the
barn entirely above ground on solid
foundation. On many farms there are
plenty Of "niggerheads," which can be
used as foundation material. The floor
should be of cement throughout. The
cost is but little more than that Of
wooden floor. and 1t will last several
times as long. A cement floor is cold
and for this reason should be kept
well bedded. If this is done there can
be little objection to this kind of
floor, even for horses, although some
horse owners prefer to cover the ce-
ment with false floor of plank.
The remainder of the barn may be
built of several different materials, of
which wood, in spite of its advancing
price, is still the cheapest and most
convenient. Next in order come ce-
ment blocks and tile brick When last
ing qualities are taken into considera
ton these are even preferable to wood.
A good shingle roof is very satisfac-
tory, though one Of the many kinds
Of prepared roofing may be SUBSTITUTE
ed at a saving in cost and will proba-
bly, last just as long. In form the hip
roof Is the best, as 1t costs but little
more and adds considerably to the ca
pacity of the haymow The plan Of
having the hay come down to the
ground In the center Of the barn Is not
economical Of space and is liable to
cause the barn to spread. 1t is better
to obtain the extra hay room needed
by making the sides little higher.
A small room In the barn which can
be used as workshop for repairing
tools, harness and doing other "rainy
day jobs" will be found very handy.
1t is always best to have the stock
face to the outside. This gives them
better light and ventilation and keeps
the stable walls from getting splat-
tered with manure. II the barn is
located on knoll where water from
surrounding ground cannot flow down
around it and provision is made for
carrying away the water from the
roof. little further drainage will be
needed 1t is wasteful to allow the
liquid manure to drain away and be
a. IL,
to drain 1t into manure pit and haul
it to the places where it is needed
in water tight wagon. A much
better plan is to use bedding enough to
absorb 1t ALL There will always be
plenty Of this at hand in 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 u wheelbarrow is
great help in cleaning out the
stables. When a litter carrier is used
| the manure spreader may be left
standing in the yard and filled direct
from the carrier. Whenever 1t gets
| full the manure may lie hauled out
and spread where 1t is most needed
In this way it reaches the fields with q
small amount of loss.
A point thut should be looked aftel
In the construction of the barn, anu
one that is too often neglected, is pro
vision for sufficient light Not only
does plenty Of light make the barn
more convenient place to work, but i
also keeps the stock healthier by dis
couraging the growth of bacteria. Th,
horse stable especially should be vel
their sight injured by being kept in ,
dark barn.
Along with light should come plent,
of ventilation. BY having the windows
swing inward from the Up and provid
ing triangular boards to close the open
ings at the sides the incoming curren
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 II
carry off the impure air. A cheape
method is to leave some Of the rafter
unlocked at the lower ends.
In case there are mahy dairy cows o
young animals to be fed silo Is al
most necessity. 1t should be locates
at the end Of the barn nearest the Gov
stable in order to lessen the work 0
! feeding. By having the yard for tn