KEEPIKG ONE COW. 81 



months or a year before wanted for use. The bottom of the stall 

 is covered with ten or twelve inches of the dry muck, over which 

 I scatter a light covering of cut straw or sawdust, so as to secure a 

 clean bed, and prevent the particles of dirt and muck from sticking 

 to the cow and dropping from thence into the pail. The dry earth 

 readily absorbs the liquid droppings and whenever it becomes satur- 

 ated with the same, may be removed, together with the manure and 

 soiled straw, to a pile beneath the covered shed, when a fresh supply 

 of dry muck, enough to replace that which was removed is carried 

 in and the whole is again covered with the cut straw. An occa- 

 sional sprinkling of plaster (gypsum) is applied both to the litter 

 in the stall and to the manure heap, which prevents any loss of 

 ammonia, and hence all unpleasant odors are avoided. Whenever 

 a forkful of manure is put on the pile, it is immediately covered 

 with muck. Twice each year this is hauled on to the land. 

 Manure thus treated will not waste, either by the leaching out 

 of soluble matter, by the escape of ammonia, or by fire-fanging. 

 And as there is no coarse material, such as long straw or corn 

 stalks mingled with it, it is always in a suitable condition to use. 

 If dry earth or muck cannot be obtained, cut straw or sawdust 

 may be substituted. But earth, being an excellent deodorizer 

 itself, and containing, as it does, much valuable fertilizing mat- 

 ter, is much to be preferred. 



If artificial fertilizers are used, they may at any time be mixed 

 with the compost heap. Also, when a pig is kept, its pen should 

 be cleaned daily and the litter, mingle il with the general pile, 

 will add greatly to its value. Common salt may occasionally be 

 added to the compost heap with advantage, but ashes never, as 

 they tend to liberate the ammonia and thereby cause waste. 



YARD ROOM AND EXERCISE. 



It is not necessary to have a large yard connected with the 

 stable, as a cow is seldom inclined to exercise her locomotive pow- 

 ers more than is required to secure her food, and if this is 

 placed before her at suitable times and in sufficient quantity to 

 supply her demands, she will remain perfectly contented in an 

 enclosure twenty feet square. In planning our buildings let us 

 bear in mind that sunlight is essential to perfect health. There- 

 fore we should have the yard on the sunny side of the building. 

 At the same time we should see that there is a shady corner, 

 where the cow may take herself during intense heat. A hint 

 in this direction is sufficient. Nothing can be more cruel than 



