FARM BUILDINGS. 249 



a thin coating of water-lime cement is added, which is 

 smoothed over with the trowel. This can be so laid as to 

 admit of ready and perfect drainage, by a depression in th*s 

 centre or sides, which answers for gutters. 



THE BARN is the most important appendage of the farm, 

 and its size and form must depend on the particular wants of 

 the owner. It is sometimes essential to have more than one 

 on the premises, but in either case they should be within 

 convenient distance of the house. They should be large 

 enough to hold all the fodder and animals on the farm. Not 

 a hoof about the premises should be required to brave our 

 northern winters, unsheltered by a tight roof and a dry bed. 

 They will thrive so much faster and consume so much less 

 food when thus protected, that the owner will be ten-fold 

 remunerated. Disease is thus often prevented, and if it oc- 

 curs, is more easily removed. The saving in fodder by 

 placing it at once under cover when cured, is another great 

 item of consideration. Besides the expense of stacking and 

 fencing, the waste of the tops and outside fodder in small 

 stacks, is frequently one fourth of the whole, and if carelessly 

 done, it will be much greater. There is the further expense 

 of again moving it to the barn, or foddering it in the field, 

 which greatly increases the waste. It is a convenient mode 

 to place a barn on a side hill inclining to the south-east, when- 

 ever the position of the ground admits of it. There are seve- 

 ral advantages connected with this plan. Room is obtained 

 by excavation and underpinning, more cheaply than in build- 

 ing above. An extensive range of stabling may be made be- 

 low, which will be warmer than what is afforded by a wooden 

 building, and the mangers are easily supplied with the fodder 

 which is stored above. Extensive cellar room can be had 

 next to the bank, in which all the roots required for the cattle 

 can be safely stored in front of their mangers, and where 

 they are easily deposited from carts through windows arran- 

 ged on the upper side, or scuttles in the barn-floor above. 

 More room is afforded for hay in consequence of placing 

 some of the stables below, and in this way, a large part of the 

 labor of pitching it on to elevated scaffolds is avoided. The 

 barn and sheds ought to be well raised on good underpinnings, 

 to prevent the rotting of sills, and to allow the free escape of 

 moisture, as low, damp premises are injurious to the health 

 of animals. 



Every consideration ought to be given to the saving of ma- 

 nure. The stables should have drains that will carry off the 

 K* 



