Barn Construction and Sanitation. 307 



One thousand pounds of live weight throws oft' daily, under vary- 

 ing conditions, from six to eight pounds of water from skin and 

 lungs. We are not to wonder, therefore, that closely built barns 

 are damp where no outside ventilation is provided. 



The out-take flues should be built either within the barn walls 

 and roof and as tight as a chimney, or, if outside, an air chamber 

 to prevent condensation. This current of air, loaded with mois- 

 ture, must be kept warm enough, about 40 degrees, until if, gets 

 out doors, so that the side walls of the flues will remain dry. The 

 size will need to provide one square foot for each six cows. I 

 think wood the most economical and safest material for construc- 

 tion. Being a nonconductor of heat, condensation will not so 

 readily take place. Build them tight. Start them near the floor, 

 carry them to the highest point of the building and cover the top 

 to keep out snow and rain. Provide each flue with a damper at 

 the opening, and also an opening near the ceiling that can lie 

 opened when the stable is getting too warm. 



In-take flues should be built very small, taking the air about 

 half way between floor and ceiling on the outside, carrying it up 

 and introducing it just under the ceiling. If these flues are built 

 on each side of the stable, provided with dampers to regulate the 

 inflow, as effected by temperature and wind pressure, the attend- 

 ant will be in such control that a very uniform degree can be main- 

 tained. 



It is also pertinent that a much more complete combustion of 

 food takes place in an animal when supplied with pure oxygen. 

 Charcoal cannot be produced in the presence of plenty of air, free 

 combustion takes place and only the ash remains. It is not only 

 a question of health that we give our cows pure air, but a matter 

 of economy in food. 



Cement Floors. 



Much criticism has gone forth against cement floors, and justly 

 so, on account of being cold and slippery. I think we have over- 

 come these objections. From a sanitary standpoint they are ideal. 

 The old plank floors, no matter how tight and well cleaned, are 

 always giving off an odor from decomposing matter found below. 

 Space forbids anything but a brief statement of the essentials. 



After grading the earth to a level and thoroughly tamping, 

 where the teams had not done it, the trenches were dug out and a 

 foundation laid of small round stone, three to five inches in 

 diameter, and filled in with a cheap grade of cement mixed with 

 five parts of sand. This was thin enough to run in between the 



