638 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



stable too dry ; but the dangers of a damp stable are constant and 

 fearful. 



Bank-barns. The severity of our winters, convenience in 

 handling feed, economy in feed and building material, together 

 with the comfort of our animals, have led many farmers to build 

 bank-barns. The writer has two, and knows something of their 

 value and superiority. Yet, when he built them he was imbued 

 with the idea of not only securing the comfort of his horses and 

 cattle, but preserving their health. He abhorred a damp, cold 

 stable. He sought comfort and health for his animals, and economy 

 and convenience for himself. He believes he has hit. the glorious 

 mean. The barns are handy, comfortable and dry, and lighted 

 and ventilated thoroughly. The winds of winter do not chill his 

 stock, and the heat and flies of summer do not torment them. 



Bank-barns as often built are damp, dark and most un- 

 healthy places for horses. The darkness is injurious to the 

 eyes, and that with dampness make the basement stable as 

 usually arranged, a complete device for development of fungous 

 growth and defilement of air and exclusion of sunlight and 

 pure air. To secure dryness, the writer's barns are on eleva- 

 tions with a gravel subsoil, and under the walls are laid tile 

 drains, and the water from the roofs is carried away with gutters 

 and spouts so the foundation and floors are perfectly dry. To 

 secure purity of the air and light, windows are placed in the 

 east, south and west, so that every part of the basement floor is 

 well lighted, and the sun shines in from three sides in the course 

 of the day. The ventilators, connecting the basement with the 

 cupolas in the roof, change and carry off the air from the base- 

 ment so readily that there is never any close or offensive smell 

 in the stables. It is a common thing for writers on sanitation 

 and health to denounce in strongest terms all bank-barns. It 

 would be as unreasonable to denounce all thoroughly built dwell- 

 ings, because by their exclusion of cold air, they allow the air 

 to become impure, and can not furnish as constant a supply of 

 fresh air as can the open cabin with the huge open fire-place. 



The length of human life has been increased by the improved 

 science of building and increasing the comforts of man. The 



