8 Feb., 1907.] 



Dairy Farm Buildings. 



119 



system of protected air inlets, the full width of the studs and wall plates 

 all round the building at the eaves. 



Two objections may be raised by the thoughtless against this innova- 

 tion, and it may be as well to anticipate and dispose of them at once. 

 They are, firstly, that the stud timbers are exposed to the weather, and 

 will not last ; and, secondly, that the appearance of the builcBng is spoiled, 

 'j'ouching the first of these objections, the fact is \'0uched for by experi- 

 enced architects that the life of hardwood timber so exposed, and without 

 being painted, tarred, or dressed in any way, will be as long as the iron 

 and other parts of the building can be reasonably expected to last ; and 

 if tarred before erection, it will certainly outlast the remainder of the 

 building. The aesthetic objection will at once be seen to be groundless 

 by a glance at the photograph ; for it can scarcely be denied that the relief 

 to the eve afforded bv the chequered design of the outside studs is infiniteh' 

 more taking than a bare expanse of plated iron. 



A.XLi IHK NEW . 



3rd. Perflation, Ventilation, and Light. — Mainly because of the large 

 open space above the partition dividing the cow-shed from the implement 

 ^ihed and boxes, copious perflation and ventilation is provided, without 

 draughts. The shed has been in use for a year and housed a full com- 

 plement of cows for five months during the winter, and the experience has 

 been that at no time has it been stuffy, or cold, or other than sweet and 

 free from cowy odours. The ample area of air inlets has been referred 

 to above. 



Sufficiency of light is maintained largely bv means of reflected light 

 through the space above-mentioned. Two panes of corrugated glass, in 

 the form of skylights in the roof, are also provided. That the light is 

 adequate will be seen bv reference to the photograph of the interior, which 

 was taken on a dull day, with the usual exposure and without artificial aid. 

 4th. Platform Stall Floors, and Guttered Gajigway.- — The construction 

 of the floor is unusual, but with a dailv experience of its practical effective- 

 ness, and the facilities it affords above all others for cleanliness, I am 

 prepared to uphold that it is absolutely the best formation of floor for a 

 cow-shed, whether used for milking only or for night-housing, or for 

 milking and night-housing combined. 



