BUILDINGS, AND THE MANUFACTURE OF MANURE. 73 



health of the animals suffers from want of sufficient air, and 

 their comfort is interfered with from the confined position in 

 which they lie. The feeding alleys and dunging passages are 

 so narrow that necessary work is either imperfectly done, or 

 takes up more time than would be the case if the space was 

 larger. It should always be remembered that economy in 

 operations that have to be frequently performed is more impor- 

 tant than in those which are only occasional; indeed, this 

 consideration should influence the arrangement of the buildings 

 in reference to each other. Ventilation, however ably managed, 

 cannot overcome the evils arising from insufficient area. The 

 change of air, instead of being gradual, as it should be, is so 

 rapid as to cause draught, which is more or less unhealthy. 



In designing buildings for the accommodation of cattle, regard 

 should be had to the method of feeding : if it is proposed — as 

 assuredly is desirable — that pulped roots and chaff be used, 

 then a good root-house, with chaff chamber over, must be placed 

 in such a position, and with such access to the principal yards 

 and feeding-sheds, as shall insure the least expenditure of labour 

 in feeding. A building, 18ft. square, or 18ft. by 20ft., 9ft. high 

 to floor, and 6ft. above, making the walls 15ft. in all, will be suffi- 

 cient for a farm of from 200 acres to 300 acres. The root-house 

 must have double doors, large enough to allow of a load of roots 

 being backed in and shot up, and the position of the pulper and 

 the entrances so arranged as to allow of the maximum quantity 

 of roots being stored. A sufficiently large pitch door in the 

 chop chamber must be provided, so that both hay and straw can 

 be readily delivered from a cart. Of course it would be con- 

 venient if the roof- space of adjoining buildings allowed of the 

 storage of straw, but such a provision entails great additional 

 cost, and there are other objections to the plan, such as increased 

 risk of fire, and the possibility of the fodder being injured by 

 the moisture arising from the animals below. We prefer that 

 the materials should be carted as required : a horse and cart, 

 and one man to assist the feeder, is all that is requisite. The 

 hay would be cut from the stack, and the straw come from the 

 Dutch barn. Both pulper and chaff machine can be driven by 

 a horse gear, and, if the operations are performed singly, one 

 horse-power will suffice. Even where steam power exists, we 



