FARM BUILDINGS. 653 



attractive appearance of any farm, and yet, with a slight additional expense in constructing, 

 it might have been made quite the reverse. Fig. 3 is a very good illustration of the same 

 building after the lapse of years, without repairs having been made. Too many such old, 

 dilapidated buildings are to be seen in all sections, and, wherever located, are a standing 

 testimony of the negligence and general shiftlessness of the owner. 



If any farmer sees in this latter cut a good representation of any of his own buildings, we 



hope he will consider carefully the benefits to be derived from a better index of an improved 



style of farming, and soon proceed to complete the work of demolishing what time has so 



nearly demolished, and substitute a more commodious, useful, and attractive barn in its 



place. 



Horse Barns. The illustration of farm buildings on the next page, representing the very 

 extensive horse barns of one of the largest importers of horses in this country, will be found 

 to be quite beyond the requirements of most horsemen; yet the plans they present are the 

 result of long experience and careful investigation. As such, they may prove valuable in 

 suggesting plans and improvements that may be modeled on a smaller scale, and which, with 

 slight modifications, may be adapted to any kind of stock. The description of this barn is 

 by the owner, Mr. Dunham, as follows : 



Barn No. 1 is 160 feet long by 52 feet wide, with an awning adjustable 10 feet wide, to 

 raise and lower. The foundation is of stone, laid below frost; bottom of wall 16 inches, top 

 one foot in thickness. The wall is laid on the east, north, and west sides, and one wall of 

 the same dimensions is laid 16 feet from the north wall and parallel to it. Cross walls, 10 

 inches thick, support the partitions of the box-stalls. The south outside foundation consists 

 of piers 20 feet apart, 4 feet square on the bottom and 20 inches square on top, with cap of 

 cut stone, 20 inches square on bottom and 12 inches square on top, to receive the post. 

 Sixteen feet north, and parallel to this line of piers, is another line built in the same manner. 

 The building is constructed, as will be seen (by position of wall), with four rows of posts 

 the two center rows standing 16 feet from the outside, and 20 feet from each other both 

 ways, extending to the purlin plate, and support the same. The outside posts are 20 feet 

 long, and on the north side are 16 feet apart. All the posts are 8 by 8 inches, and are con 

 nected by beams 8 by 10 inches, and 10 feet from the bottom, upon which are laid 2 by 

 12-inch joists. The two center lines of beams running lengthwise of the building are 

 additionally supported by a cast-iron angle, bolted on the post under the end of each beam, 

 and running down the post and out on the under side of the beam 12 inches. The beams 

 are also trussed on the top, making a solid and safe support for the joists which run crosswise 

 of the building. The roof is one-third pitch, and formed with gables (dormers), and sur 

 mounted by a cupola, as shown in the perspective view. The outside is girted with 6 by 

 6-inch girts, 4 feet apart, and boarded with matched and dressed lumber. The positions of 

 the windows can be seen in the engraving. In the second story there are four doors on the 

 north side, with transoms, and on the south side eight of the same kind. In each end, as 

 high as can be made in the gable, is a door 12 feet high and 10 feet wide, through which 

 the building is filled with hay. 



From each door to the center is erected a hay-carrier, as near the ridge as possible. 

 The building is supported by the usual cross-beams and braces. The roof is covered with 

 the very best dry pine shingles boiled in West Virginia oil. To prepare the shingles a vat 

 is used of sheet-iron, 20 inches deep, 2^ feet wide, and from 2 to 4 feet long, according to 

 the extent of the job. Set the bunches in and have oil enough to come up to the bands; let 

 it boil five minutes, take out, place on an incline with tight bottom and drip back to the 

 vat. In half an hour the other end of the bunch can be dipped, and returned on incline, 

 and in one hour they will be dry. The cost is less than $1 per 1000. I believe shingles 

 prepared in this way will, with an occasional coating of oil, last indefinitely, as the water 

 will not penetrate them in the least. 



