358 AMERICAN CATTLE. 



manure cellar fifty by twenty-eight feet, and eight feet deep, 

 which opens on to a still lower yard. 



"On the stable story is located the steam arrangement. In 

 one corner of the under-ground part, is the boiler room, about ten 

 feet square, made as near fire-proof as possible. The chimney 

 is built of brick, on the outside, against the corner of the barn, 

 and extends about six feet above the roof at that point. The 

 boiler (tubular) is about the capacity of a four-horse engine. The 

 vat, or chest, in which the steaming is done, is built of brick and 

 lined with two-inch plank, tongued and grooved; is six feet 

 square inside, and eigbt feet deep, and extends from the stable 

 floor to the barn floor above, with a lid the whole size of the top, 

 opening on a level with the floor. There is also a door four feet 

 square on one side, near the bottom, for the purpose of taking 

 out the feed. The steam pipe passes directly from the boiler to 

 the vat, and extends around the four sides and across the middle, 

 about six inches above the bottom. It is perforated with small 

 holes, about six inches apart, for the escape of the steam. Con- 

 veniently located at one side, above the vat, is a cask which holds 

 about two hundred gallons of water, which is kept full by a pipe 

 connected with an aqueduct. 



"The fodder is cut by horse-power on the barn floor, and con- 

 sists usually of about one-half corn stalks and straw, and one-half 

 good hay. It is thrown from the floor into the vat, and thor- 

 oughly wet and mixed with a small quantity of meal or bran, 

 according to circumstances, continuing the process until the vat 

 is full, and taking care to tread down well, using as much water 

 as possible, to cause the fodder to absorb as much water as it will 

 hold. 



"I usually direct my foreman to start the fire in the boiler 

 before he begins to fill the vat, and by the time it is full the steam 

 begins to pass into it. I never attempt to get up much pressure, 

 but let the steam pass into the vat as fast as it is generated, and 

 like to keep it on three or four hours the longer the better. 



