state Dairy Association. 247 



place that will enable a cow to work good, remain healthy and give 

 birth to a vigorous, healthy calf, will afford the attendant a cheer- 

 ful place to work. If you expect the best results from a cow, you 

 m.ust not stop at making her comfortable. She must be surrounded 

 with conditions that will insure to her her full powers, and if she 

 is not afforded all the pure fresh air that she needs to breathe and 

 the invigorating influence of every day's sunshine she will suffer 

 lo that extent, and the owner will pay the penalty. I have entered 

 many an expensive cow stable on a winter day, and found it more 

 cheerless and uncomfortable than the outside. About a year ago 

 I was the guest, for a day, of a man in a high position — a man of 

 honor and of education. He had recently erected a new dairy barn, 

 and invited my criticism. The main posts in that barn cost ten 

 dollars each in the nearby city. It was an expensive structure, and 

 housed a lot of stuff. The cows stood in long rows, the very nar- 

 row passageway in front serving as a manger, feed box and walk ; 

 the walk behind the cows so narrow as to make a man squeeze 

 through. The cows were stabled about three o'clock that afternoon, 

 but even at that time, they were examined with difficulty. The 

 hay shut off all the light in front, and the few holes in the low wall 

 in rear of the cows were the only sources of light. If practical 

 experience had only guided the designing of this cow house, less 

 than half the money would have provided a convenient and har- 

 monious arrangement, enabling its grand owner to get results not 

 worthy the attempt in present form. They were milking sixty- 

 five cows. Only seven miles away another man was milking 

 twenty cows in a cheap structure. Both had access to the same 

 market, and the twenty cows were returning within a few dollars 

 as much as the sixty-five. As to net profits you can draw your 

 own conclusions. When I told this friend that I could sort out 

 twenty-five of his cows, discharge two men, reduce his feed bill 

 and supply the same amount of milk, he took it as a joke. Let us 

 emphasize the value of sunlight and an abundance of fresh air — 

 and I do not mean the sunny side of a wire fence, but a warm 

 stable that admits the sun and ivell provided with ventilation. 

 Not ventilated by open doors or windows, but as Prof King has 

 most perfectly worked out. It is not a hobby of some "book far- 

 mer," but a reality. It is of equal value to your best feed under 

 the proper conditions. It is of value not only to the cows and to 

 the fall calves that wise dairymen have, but will bring better re- 

 sults from your men doing the work. You can clean your stable, 

 brush your cows, prepare their feed and draw their milk in com- 



