FARM MANAGEMENT 121 



done, to avoid unsightly and unsanitary manure heaps, a septic 

 tank should be constructed. This can be done at small cost. 



A work room for the repair of harness and farm implements 

 should be provided either in the barn or in a separate building, 

 The barn can be so constructed as to furnish room for housing the 

 farm machinery. 



Bank Barns. In many situations the ground will be found 

 to adapt itself to the building of a bank barn, and, although there 

 have been many objections raised against this style of barn, the 

 objectionable features can be provided against, and when the lay 

 of the land lends itself to such a structure none more convenient 

 nor comfortable can be adopted. 



The chief objection to the bank barn lies in the fact that it 

 necessitates a basement stable, one that it is claimed will prove 

 dark, damp, and generally unhealthful. But these conditions are 

 by no means essential. The ideal situation is a hillside sloping to 

 the south. In such a situation the rising land to the north and the 

 fact that the north wall is below the surface both serve to protect 

 the stabling from the cold. The southern exposure of the stable, 

 which should be provided with ample doors, admits an abundance 

 of sunshine; and if low windows, such as are commonly known 

 as cellar sash, be placed just below the ceiling on each side, they 

 will afford satisfactory means of lighting and ventilating. In stor- 

 ing forage teams can be driven in on the main floor without climb- 

 ing a steep ascent and hay and fodder put away on the same floor 

 and with a minimum of labor. In too many instances the base- 

 ments of bank and other basement barns have been placed too deep 

 in the ground, and when so placed all the objections advanced 

 against them are well sustained. The basement should be so placed 

 as to permit of side windows at least two-thirds of the way back. 



In building bank barns it is usual to construct the portion of 

 the walls below the surface of stone or brick, but wooden walls coated 

 with hot tar with tarred felt nailed over that have proved extremely 

 durable. 



Sheep Barns. Where a large number of sheep are kept a 

 specially designed barn is necessary. There is a very decided ob- 

 jection to a sheep barn with pens on both sides of a certain alley, 

 because of the draughts that are sure to prevail. It is desirable to 

 give the animals on both sides of the building access to the yards 

 daily; if the pen doors on both sides are open at jonce there will 

 nearly always be more or less draught, no matter how still the air 

 may be and these influences are likely to result in prevalent colds 

 and catarrh. Few sheep barns are so located that the pens can be 

 opened up on one side or the other according to the direction of the 

 wind, but if this arrangement cannot be made we would prefer a 

 barn opening on one side only, to one with pens on both sides of a 

 central alley. (Mich. Col. B. 250; F. B. 126; Of. Ex. Sta. F. I. Lee. 

 8; Univ. of Wis. B. 164; F. B. 372; F. B. 190; Cornell Reading 

 Course 30.) . 



