74 KEEPING ONE COW. 



Dry earth is used for this purpose. At first the bottom of the pit 

 is covered with dry earth, and as soon as this is moist, more earth 

 is added until the pit is full of the saturated substance, when the 

 lalter is thrown upon the compost heap, and the same process 

 repeated. A door is placed at e t for admitting the cow, and carry- 

 ing away the manure. The partition between S and It may be 

 made of boards or rails, and need not be over four feet high. 



The division, E, is used for keeping litter, dry earth, artichoke 

 roots, green fodder, and the calf. It should have a door at some 

 convenient place for entrance from the outside, and a window with 

 a glass-frame, preferably on the south side. It is in communica- 

 tion with the stall by means of a gate at d. 



Figure 18 is a view of the gable-end, //, representing the loft for 

 storing hay and other dry fodder. The loft has a shutter in one 

 of the gable-ends or sides, and a ladder or steps running up to it 

 from within, for convenience of feeding. P, is a post in the corner 

 of the manger. The other letters in figure 18 indicate the same 

 parts as in figure 17. 



The cow-yar-d will be large enough if it contains an area of two 

 square rods ; but it can be made somewhat larger with advantage. 

 It ought to adjoin the stable so as to give the cow direct access to 

 the stall ; and ought to be shaded by trees in order to afford shelter 

 to the cow from the direct rays of the sun in summer. The cow 

 should be kept in the yard only a part of the day, and the rest of 

 the time she should be in the stall. The stall-door should be left 

 open when she is in the yard, so that she can enter the stable at 

 will. Some manure will be lost by suffering her to run in the 

 yard ; but the benefit that she will derive from it, in health and 

 contentment, will more than compensate for the loss. 



MAKING AND SAYING MANURE. 



The compost heap may be kept in the cow-yard, and must be in 

 the shade. It should, therefore, be placed on the north side of the 

 stable, and trees should be planted east and west of it. It must not 

 be under cover nor washed by running water, nor receive the 

 water from the roof of the stable ; but the rain should fall on it 

 directly from the skies to promote decomposition, and to prevent 

 the escape of its volatile constituents. The manure of the stall, 

 and the saturated earth of the brine pit, are mixed together to form 

 the compost heap, and all the refuse material of the farm, garden, 

 and yard, should be thrown on it. It ought to be kept in a com- 

 pact body, level on top, and protected by boards on the sides to 



