BUILDINGS, AND THE MANUFACTURE OF MANURE. 69 



We strongly advocate the plan of tying animals up at night 

 and when they are feeding. A considerable saving of space 

 will be thus insured, for, strange as it may at first appear, a 

 shed and yard will accommodate more animals if tied up than if 

 they be left to range about. There are several other points to 

 be urged very strongly in favour of having ail sheds made so 

 that the animals can be tied up, besides the economy of space. 

 The equal distribution of the food is of great importance, all 

 faring alike. When the animals are loose the principle of 

 might being right holds good, and the weaker ones necessarily 

 go to the wall. The effects of a winter spent among a lot of 

 stronger beasts will be seen long after turning-out time ; and it 

 is doubtful if it be ever got over, however well the animal may 

 be tended afterwards. 



On most farms where sheds are built out in the fields for the 

 accommodation of cattle, straw will be found to be very scarce. 

 There are few farms where there is not some ; but what there 

 is ought on no account, if properly harvested, to be used as 

 litter. And now comes the question. What are we to use 

 instead ? Sand has been recommended very strongly by Mr. 

 Brereton, in his paper on " Stocking Land," in the " Royal Agri- 

 cultural Society's Journal." There may, however, in many 

 cases be very great difficulty experienced in getting sand, and, 

 even if attainable, the price may be too great to make it of 

 service. The same may be said of sawdust, which v-ill answer 

 the purpose equally well. We are not now speakmg ot littering 

 the yard, but the shed where the animals are tied up at night. 

 The amount of litter required will of course depend upon the 

 floor of the shed and the fall from it. If the fall be imperfect 

 and it lies wet, more litter will be required ; but if a proper fall 

 be attained the animals ought to require little or none. Sand 

 and sawdust are merely useful in so far as they render the 

 surface more readily cleaned, and not for their actual properties 

 as litter. Irregularities in the surface of the floor will always 

 hold moisture, and otherwise conduce greatly to the discomfort 

 of the animals. Care should therefore be taken to have the 

 floor as smooth as possible, and to provide sufficient fall to carry 

 away all the liquid manure. This manure need not be wasted ; 

 but it is not our intention now to discuss how any waste may be 

 avoided. 



