DAIRY AND GENERAL 



drive should be so located that it may be screened off by 

 the proper planting of the lawn surrounding the house. 



Rectangular Barns Most Common 



There are two general shapes of barns, round and rec- 

 tangular. The great majority of barns are rectangular. 

 While there are differences of opinion as to the relative 

 merits of the two shapes it is generally considered that the 

 rectangular plank-frame construction is the more standard 

 and satisfactory. 



The best arguments for the round barn are: 



(i) As a greater area can be enclosed by a circle than 

 by a rectangle of the same wall length, it is cheaper to en- 

 close a given floor area by a circular than by a rectangular 

 wall; (2) Circular construction is claimed to be stronger 

 and to give greater convenience. 



Some of the objections to the round barn and the ad- 

 vantages claimed for rectangular construction are: 



(i) In a round barn the silo must, for convenience in 

 feeding and for roof support, be located in the center. This 

 location is inconvenient for filling, and unless care is taken 

 in keeping silage cleaned up the odor from it is objection- 

 able; (2) Unless designed for a dairy barn and all interior 

 arrangements are circular in form, there is much waste 

 space. A certain sacrifice of stable and hay-mow-room is 

 made by locating the silo in the barn; (3) As the hay must 

 be unloaded inside a barn bridge leading to the second floor 

 is required. Barn bridges are not always convenient and 

 much space is wasted from the floor to the roof where hay 

 is drawn up ; (4) The center of the barn is poorly lighted, 

 which in a dairy barn is a very objectionable point; (5) The 

 construction of a round barn prohibits the economic use 

 of rafters for if they are placed the proper distance apart 

 at the plate they are too close at the top; and (6) There is 

 considerable difficulty in securing carpenters experienced 

 in round barn construction; (7) It is more difficult to secure 

 proper ventilation in a round than a rectangular barn. 



Sunlight Is the Best Disinfectant 



A barn should be lighted, so far as is possible, by direct 

 sunlight. Sunlight is a great disinfectant and the best sani- 

 tary conditions can be obtained only in a well lighted barn. 

 Darkness and dampness are serious objections to bank 



Six 



