892 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



The cost of cutting aud loading by means of the sled harvester was found to 

 be $1.28 per acre in one case and $1.98 per acre, or $0,259 per ton in another. 

 The cost of cutting corn with a corn binder on 16 Nebraska farms and of deliv- 

 ering it bound was about $1.77 i^er acre or $0,236 per ton. Power cutters with 

 fan blowers are considered to be always advisable where many large silos are 

 to be filled. The drag carrier may be used successfully in filling pit and semipit 

 silos but is not successful where a long carrier is required or in windy countries 

 unless the carrier is covered. 



A description and illustration of a simple homemade hand hoist for pit and 

 semipit silos is appended. 



Concrete silos {Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Minneapolis, 1914, PP- 104, fiffs. 

 7g). — This is a pamphlet of practical information for the use of farmers and 

 rural contractors regarding the construction of monolithic concrete and con- 

 crete block silos and concrete silo water tanks. A large amount of specific 

 data is given accompanied by diagrammatic illustrations. 



The construction and equipment of dairy barns, W. D. Nicholls (Ken- 

 tucky 8ta. Bui. 119 {1914), pp. 37-112, figs. ^6).— This bulletin gives informa- 

 tion to dairymen ou the construction and equipment of dairy buildings. In 

 dealing with the subject the author has kept in mind the average farmer of 

 limited capital. A number of detailed plans of dairy buildings are included in 

 which it has been the intention to keep economy and efliciency paramount. 

 Elaborate and costly barns are considered to be unnecessary for permanence, 

 sanitation, comfort of cows, or convenience in the production of clean milk. 



It is stated that money inAOsted in a dairy barn should be required to pay at 

 least 10 per cent a year to cover interest, depreciation, taxes, insurance, etc. 

 It is also stated that a good business farmer seldom puts more than $50 per 

 cow in a dairy barn. Labor saving arrangements are emphasized and it is 

 stated that in nearly all cases abundant hay storage should be provided by the 

 construction of a roomy hay loft over the first story. This is considered to be 

 by far the cheapest hay storage. 



The barn should be large enough to meet the present needs of the farm and 

 to allow for a reasonable growth in crop and stock production, but ordinarily 

 when home grown silage and roughage feeds are produced no more than 60 

 to 80 cows should be placed in one stable. 



The importance is emphasized of so locating the dairy barn as to avoid odors 

 and contamination from hog pens, chicken houses, and other places which are 

 liable to be unclean. It is stated that, if possible, the barn should run north 

 and south so that the sunlight may enter from both sides during the day. 



From the standpoint of economy it is considered desirable to have the barn 

 as narrow as possible, consistent with efficiency and sanitation. The ad- 

 vantages and disadvantages of timber and plank framing for the dairy barn 

 are discussed and the latter arrangement is seemingly favored. 



It is considered usually desirable to place the cows in two rows. The plan 

 of facing the cows inward may be used to advantage when the greatest economy 

 of floor space is desired since it permits the use of a narrow barn. With the 

 cows faciug outward a wide barn is necessary, but this width permits a drive- 

 way wide enough for a team to be driven through from end to end. thus loading 

 the manure directly from gutter to wagon or si)reader. The standard width 

 of a cow stall is 3^ ft., and for small cows like the Jersey the length of the stall 

 from gutter to manager should be 4i ft., for long cows like the Holstein or 

 Shorthorn, 5 ft., and for very long cows, 54 ft. 



Other desirable features are described and illustrated, and the importance 

 of a plentiful supply of water for the cows is especially emphasized. 



