Farm Buildings. 343 



iu the start tliiit in no case should tliis be ioined to the house 

 for reasons above mentioned, and for ;j;reater security against 

 fire. AVhat is a constant stream of tainted air to a few steps and 

 a free view ? As nuich thought and skill should bo bestowed 

 upon the barn as the house. Horace Greeley once said that 

 his stone barn at Chappaqua, which he had built, would 

 speak of him when all else he had done would be silent. 



In this, like the house, greater economy of room and con- 

 venience can be had in one large upright structure than in 

 many smaller ones. If possible, I would locate it by-a bank 

 that could be made available for a drive-way for taking hay 

 and fodder to the loft above the 'beams. In our crowded 

 hay season and with labor expensive, such is the economy of 

 labor in mowing that it amounts to days in a single season. 

 I would have the sides tightly boarded, and the stables large 

 enough that every thing that walks on four legs about the 

 building may find shelter beneath its roof How much is 

 lost in growth of stock and in food, in our Northern lati- 

 tude, for want of warm shelter ! 



I think it pays (and I speak from demonstration,) to lay 

 brick edge-wise in mortar entirely around the stables, so that 

 the animal heat from the stock will prevent freezing, even 

 in the coldest weather. This is consistent with the best ven- 

 tilation. I much prefer the wooden stanchion to any other 

 method of fastening. A platform, four feet six inches long 

 for large cows, two inches shorter for smaller ones, a drop 

 of six inches, a trench sixteen inches wide, and a walk ele- 

 vated two inches, with sawdust, dry muck, or even clean 

 sand, every whit, both of liquid and solid manure can be 



