368 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



stone and form a solid foundation about five inches thick. Upon 

 this foundation, after it had set, was placed a finishing coat one 

 and one-half to two inches thick of American, Portland or hvdran- 

 lie cement mixed with two parts of clean, coarse sand. After it has 

 " set " nicely, take a small board float and rough the surface, that 

 is, wherever the rough finish is required. The hangers may be 

 troweled smooth. This roughness will depend upon the quality of 

 sand. While only clean, sharp sand will make durable floors, if 

 not coarse the smooth condition will prevail. We find also an 

 absolute necessity, the thorough mixing of sand and cement before 

 wetting — • action begins as soon as water is added and mixing is 

 then quite difficult. 



The cement is cold because it is a conductor of heat. When one 

 touches metal or cement, he finds it cold until warmec through 

 from the heat of the hand. Not so with wood, as a nonconductor 

 it soon feels warm. 



Without bedding, a cement floor would be objectionable, but the 

 rough, coarse finish will hold bedding to it much better than plank. 

 This thin sheet of bedding breaks up the easy communication 

 between body and floor and the animals are as content as on 

 plank. 



No ; do not fear a properly built cement floor. Only see to it 

 that your mason does not put a trowel to the finishing coat on the 

 platform and drive; of course, it may look smoother, but its true 

 efficiency has been lessened. 



Keep the surface sprinkled for a time to prevent cracking and 

 you will have a floor as hard as stone and as tough as asphalt. 



Below is a diagram of the standing platform and gutter with 

 dimensions which we find very satisfactory: 



I 8 | 16 



18 in. 36 in. 15 in. 



The stable shown in fig. 1 has cows standing heads together, 

 which permits of greater ease and economy in feeding, but what 

 is gained is more than lost in the extra labor required in passing 

 each side for manure and the extra width of the barn — six feet. 

 This same barn also represents the tw T o-story structure, while 

 fig. 2 has all working parts on the ground floor. The only item of 

 extra cost found in jSTo. 2 is the roof. Frame work is much 

 cheaper, not so much strain being brought to bear upon the tim- 

 bers. Of course, the same style could be erected with very large 

 storage above if desired. In this barn the posts are 10 feet. In 



