560 Reading-Course for Farmers. 



A''. To secure economy of space 



The usual question asked by persons seeking advice about a barn is 



something Hke this : " I intend to build a barn 30 x 50 with a basement 



. and eighteen-foot posts above. In this I intend to provide for twenty 



cows and four horses, ten head of young cattle, hay, grain and tools for 



lOO-acre farm. How can I best divide up the space?" 



The question should rather be as follows : I have twenty cows, four 

 horses, ten head of young cattle, hay, grain and tools for lOO-acre farm, 

 for which I must provide. What size, shape of building and manner of 

 construction would you suggest? 



In other words, the proper method is to determine one's require- 

 ments and then seek to build the most economical structure which will 

 provide them. Architects sometimes cut up pieces of cardboard of 

 proper scale, say one-fourth inch to the foot, representing each of the 

 rooms required in a building, and these they shift about until the best 

 arrangement of space has been determined. 



The amount of space to be allotted to animals should be such as is 

 required for the bodily comfort of the animals and for the convenience 

 and safety of the attendants. Theoretically the ventilation depends rather 

 more on the cubic feet of air furnished than on the cubic feet of space. 

 Large space presents drafts, gives greater opportunity for exchange of air 

 (wdiich always takes place in barns j, and gives more opportunity for 

 wind ventilation. With good insulation and proper provision for the 

 intake and outgo of air greater regularity will be secured by small cubic 

 space, because it is easier for the animals to warm the stable and thus 

 keep a greater difference between the inside and outside air. 



The floor space allotted to each horse may vary from 90 to 120 scjuare 

 feet. For horses the standard length of stall from rear of manger to the 

 drop is six feet six inches. The width of manger from outside to outside 

 may be three feet. In nature, horses eat from the ground. ]\Iangers 

 should not be too high nor too large. Three feet high next the stall is 

 sufficient, and, if stall faces an alley, four feet high on the side next 

 tliis alley. The width of stalls may vary from five to six feet. 



Cattle may be housed with about one-half the space allotted to 

 horses, or from forty-five to sixty square feet. The standard length of 

 platform for cows is five feet which may be varied slightly, depending on 

 the method of tying and the size of the animals. The tendency is to get 

 the platform too long. The width of cow stall or s])ace may vary from 

 three to four feet. The gutter should not be more than eight inches 

 deep at its deepest point, and may be twelve to sixteen inches wide. It 

 is desirable to have it of suitable width for a flat stable shovel. Tiie 

 writer prefers the runway behind the cattle to be of same height as plat- 



