THE DAIRY STABLE. 15 



and over again loses its oxygen and gains in poisonous gases. 

 Breathing this kind of air all winter weakens the cows and 

 lessens the milk flow. The same thing happens if they are 

 exposed to draughts and excessive cold. Therefore batten over 

 the cracks, make the barn tight and provide a system of ventila- 

 tion. The King system is probably the best that has been 

 worked out. Space does not permit its description here, but it 

 provides for an inlet of cold air near the ceiling, where the air 

 is warmest. The cold air as it descends mixes more or less 

 with the warm air and a direct draught on the cows is avoided. 

 The stale air is drawn off through chutes opening near the floor 

 and running up through the barn to the roof. 



The next best method is to have the windows hinged at the 

 bottom and open inward at the top. They may be fastened with 

 an open-link chain that will permit them to be set open at any 

 angle. A large number of windows opened an inch or two will 

 furnish a fairly uniform inflow of fresh air. On mild days 

 the windows may be opened wide. By this method ventilation 

 and light are both produced at one cost and will be found satis- 

 factory. The expense when divided in this way is compara- 

 tively small. In order to give the best results the windows 

 should be placed at frequent intervals and not made too large. 



The stable floor is preferably made of cement. It is durable 

 and easily kept clean. The objection which many people have 

 to the cows standing on cement is not well founded. It may be 

 overcome, however, by laying plank over the cement where the 

 cows are to stand. A sound, tight floor of wood will give good 

 satisfaction ; but it is not durable, and must be renewed when- 

 ever it begins to fail. The dropping of liquid through the floor, 

 either into a manure cellar or on the ground close to the floor 

 must not be allowed. If the stable is over a cellar the floor 

 should be tight in order to prevent odors from rising and 

 keeping the air foul. The cellar should be thoroughly venti- 

 lated by windows close to the bam sill in order to keep down 

 odors and to keep the underpinning, sills and joists of the barn 

 dry and free from rot. It is preferable to build the manure 

 shed away from the barn and thus avoid any of the dangers 

 above mentioned. The floor upon which the cows stand should 

 be from four to five and a half feet long. Small Jerseys and 



