VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 115 



quality of cement. Cheap cement is an extravagance. Use the 

 best and it will be the cheapest and most satisfactory. The main 

 condition of success is a firm and immovable foundation. If 

 this is secured a comparatively thin coating of concrete on top 

 will last forever. Perfect drainage is also an essential to suc- 

 cess with this floor. 



Convenience of attendance depends so much on individual 

 surroundings and conditions that little can be said of a helpful 

 nature. Wide alleys, plenty of floor space in the stable, acces- 

 sible silos, hay mows and grain bins, these are the main things 

 to be considered. They will be most certainly secured by tak- 

 ing plenty of time to plan the barn. 



Just a few words as to remodeling old stables. In the great 

 share of our Vermont stables the things to be attained by change 

 are first, cubic air space ; second, sunlight ; third, warmth; fourth, 

 ventilation. Windows will give the second, building paper the 

 third and a few boards put into the shape of a ventilating shaft 

 the fourth. The expense of all these will be trifling. The 

 cost outgo will be small and the labor not great and of a charac- 

 ter that every farmer can do himself. The first, cubic air space, 

 is perhaps the most important of all but it unfortunately is often 

 more difficult and expensive of attaiment. As a general prop- 

 osition width can most cheaply be secured by a leanto built 

 upon the side. Height can often be secured by removing the 

 floor and replacing it with cement a foot or more lower down. 

 Or, in many cases, height can be easily gained by raising a scaf- 

 fold one or two feet. The best method will usually be to build 

 an ell of one story, and place stable therein. If none of these, 

 or other methods are possible to secure proper size, then make 

 the means of ventilation as ample as possible. Ventilation 

 however will not fully remedy the difficulty. No system of 

 barn ventilation, without artificial heat is fully satisfactory. 

 And of course artificial heat is out of the question for most of 

 us. It is for this reason that a good amount of cubic air space 

 is so important. 



In conclusion allow me to say that I have endeavored 

 through' -;t these remarks to keep constantly in mind the matter 

 of expense. I believe nothing has been advocated herein that 

 is not well within the means of every Vermont farmer living on 

 his own farm. Certainly no such farmer can afford to keep his 

 cattle in a stable that is not reasonably healthy, convenient and 

 comfortable. No man should be a dairy farmer who does not 

 take pride and satisfaction in his herd and next to the quality of 

 the cows themselves nothing contributes more to the satisfac- 

 tion of their owner and attendant than the character of the 

 stable in which they, and their caretaker as well, spend much 

 of the time of our long Vermont winters. 



