FARM BUILDINGS. 251 



A little attention of this kind, will frequently save the life of 

 an animal^ or add much to their comfort and the general 

 economy of farm management. The surplus straw, corn- 

 stalks and the like, can be used for bedding, though it is gene- 

 rally preferable to have them cut and fed to the cattle. 



WATER FOR THE CATTLE YARD 



Is an important item, and if the expense of driving the ani- 

 mals to a remote watering place, the waste of manure 

 thereby occasioned, the straying of cattle and sometimes loss 

 of limbs or other injury resulting from their being forced to 

 go down icy slopes or through excessive mud, to slake their 

 thirst if all these considerations are taken into account, 

 they will be found annually to go far towards the expense of 

 supplying water in the yard, where it would at all times be 

 accessible. All animals require water in winter, except such 

 as have a full supply of roots ; and though they sometimes 

 omit going to distant and inconvenient places where it is to 

 be had, they may nevertheless, suffer materially for the want 

 of it. When it is not possible to bring a stream of running 

 water into the yard, or good water is not easily reached by 

 digging, an effectual way of procuring a supply through most 

 of the, year is by the construction of 



CISTERNS. Where there is a compact clay, no further 

 preparation is necessary for stock purposes, than to excavate 

 to a sufficient size ; and to keep up the banks on every side, 

 place two frames of single joist around it near the top and 

 bottom, between which and the banks, heavy boards or plank 

 may be set in an upright position, reaching from top to 

 bottom. The earth keeps them in place on one side, and the 

 joist prevents their falling. They require to be only tight 

 enough to prevent the clay from washing in. No appreciable 

 quantity of water will escape from the sides or bottom. 

 We have used one for years, without repairs or any material 

 wasting of water. This should be made near the buildings ; 

 and the rains carefully conducted by the eaves-troughs and 

 pipes from an extensive range, will afford an ample supply. 

 For household purposes, one should be made with more care 

 and expense, and so constructed as to afford pure filtered 

 water at all times. These may be formed in various ways, 

 and of different materials, stone, brick, or even wood ; 

 though the two former are preferable. They should be per- 

 manently divided into two apartments, one to receive the 

 water and another for a reservoir to contain such as is ready 



