THE DAIRY BARN 12$ 



the bottom of the drop, or gutter, should be eight 

 inches. The platform should slope slightly toward 

 the gutter. One-half an inch to the foot is plenty. 

 Too much is believed to produce injurious effects. 

 The level of the driveway should be two inches 

 lower than the cow platforms. Drops should be 

 from fourteen to sixteen inches wide and water- 

 tight. Driveways should be eight feet wide, no more, 

 no less. Wider is inconvenient for shoveling the 

 manure on manure boat or wagon, narrower will 

 make the whiffletrees interfere with the cows when 

 driving through. 



In the past few years there has been so great an 

 advance in the price of lumber that the cost of 

 construction of stable floors has become a consider- 

 able item. Wood floors must be occasionally re- 

 placed. Cement floors seem to be the only solution 

 of the question. Of late years many of these have . 

 been put in and are in successful use. It seems ad- 

 visable to arrange for wood platforms under the 

 cows. Oak, red beech, or some other durable wood 

 can be imbedded in the concrete as stringers upon 

 which to spike the platforms. The surface of the 

 concrete must be roughened to prevent slipping. 

 When once put in, these floors are permanent, and 

 in the end are cheap. One great advantage is the 

 saving of all liquid manure, an important item. 



STANCHIONS 



The stanchion should be three feet four inches to 

 three feet six inches from center to center; three feet 

 is too narrow and crowds the cows. This is a place 



