THE FARM HOLDING. 209 



a twofold purpose this has been (lone for example, the space apportioned 



to tlif outer receiving yards also serves as a convenient enclosure for the 

 sheep tli.it are released from the draining pens of the dip. Again, the space 

 under the floor of the wool room ami shearing hoards is utilised to shelter the 



sheep, and so provides againsl loss of time occasioned by wet weatliei. 



The lines on which the yards haze been designed allow of the sheep being- 

 drafted three ways. To meet the requirements of this mode of construction 

 two drafting gates are necessary ; these are decidedly preferable to the 

 obsolete method of* the single gate. The use of the double gate not only 

 protects the sheep from being knocked about, but expedites the work of 

 drafting. The two gates are hung one from each of the middle posts of the 

 inner check-pen, and when in line serve a twofold object. The drafting gates 

 are held in position by staples which may be removed at will, and so permit 

 the gates to be thrown back. 



As those well versed in the work can tell, one of the most difficult tasks of 

 all is to provide means that will induce the sheep to enter the dip. Various 

 contrivances have been tried. We have examples of the " walk-in principle," 

 the '•' slip-side," " false floor," and various devices of decoy pens, but none 

 seem to have proved satisfactory. 



The plan has been designed to allow the sheep to be released in the yard 

 beyond the hranding race, or to be transferred to the crush-pens at the 

 approach to the dip as required. It also admits of the dip being used 

 independently of the other structure- in the event of dipping being undertaken 

 at a later interval. To provide for this the forwarding-pens have been 

 extended at right angles beyond the line of the drafting-race. , The sheep may 

 be accommodated in the drafting yards and brought round the shed to the 

 approach to the dip in numbers as required. 



Cow Bails for Hand-milking. (Fig. 15.) 



This plan needs little explanation. It provides for a convenient shed 

 capable of stalling six cows, but it could be extended to any desired number. 

 As in all modern dairies, the cows enter at the front and take their places in 

 the stalls, where they are detained in the bails, sufficient details of those 

 contrivances being given to enable any one to erect them. When milking 

 is finished, the milker simply pushes the 2 x f-inch batten, releasing the bail 

 stick and opening the door in front of the cow, and she passes through into 

 the yard beyond. The door is then closed again by pulling back the batten,, 

 the bail remaining open ready for the next cow. 



The floor is of concrete, and the construction is designed to clean easily 

 and to offer as little opportunity as possible for dirt of any kind to remain 

 in the bails. 



Lay-out of a Dairy Farm. (Fig. 16.) 

 This plan is included in the hope that it will indicate how dairy farm 

 buildings, yards, &c, can be disposed to best advantage. No description is 

 needed, the plan being self explanatory in all respects, though perhaps it 

 should be mentioned that owing to the lay of the land, etc., it may be 

 necessary to alter the relative positions of the buildings; this might make 

 the drainage a little more difficult, but each case would have to he considered 

 on its own merits 



