A CHEAP COW STABLE. I43 



posts for the outside as may be necessary for the strength of 

 the building. I commence at the top of each side to board, 

 using a good firm board for the lower ends of the roof-boards 

 to rest upon, and bank up or dig down at the bottom as neces- 

 sity requires. I use 2x4 scantling for the ridge pole, adjusting 

 the length of my rafters to roof-boards sixteen feet long, and 

 fitting two supporters between rafters between ridge pole and 

 eaves board for roof boards to rest upon. The ends of the 

 stable are made firm by the siding. The center may be 

 made firm and stable by running a common fence board from 

 corner to corner (thus X) nailing them firmly to the cross ties 

 over head. The cross ties should be arranged with reference 

 to the strengthening of the stanchions, as well as to supporting 

 the floor, or whatever may be put upon them above. The 

 stanchions or the outline of them should go up at the same 

 time as the outside of the building. The proper size for both 

 upper and lower stringers is 2x6 lumber, and the same material 

 is the best for the stanchions themselves. The stringers should 

 be held to the main supports by bolts ; the intermediate fixed 

 portions of the stanchions may be spiked. A dirt floor answers 

 well enough for the center, and should be quite full in the 

 middle. 



A floor three planks wide does nicely for the hind feet of 

 the cows, and a clay floor is best for the fore feet. The rear 

 portion should be planked, but lower. This stable may be 

 made warm by making a floor over head of old boards, or even 

 brush, and putting plenty of straw above. The sides should also 

 be boarded up with any old material, and the space well filled in 

 with straw, chaff, sawdust, tanbark, shavings, or even dirt, if 

 nothing better is at hand. I find a sled and mule or horse the 

 most convenient for cleaning these stables, hauling my manure 

 entirely away from the building. I have a hand cart with a box 

 rigged on it, and holding four or five bushels, for a feeding cart, 

 running it into the 9,lleys. It freezes but very little in the 

 coldest weather in my stables, and, although the roof is not 

 battened, and the floor over head is brush, the rain seldom 

 comes through — the leakage being absorbed by the straw. I 



