SECRETARY'S REPORT. 253 



inches. The- sparred flooring was introduced in this house with 

 more success than in the barn, the spars being 8 inches wide 

 and f of an inch apart: but litter cannot altogether be dis- 

 pensed with. Some look upon this mode of housing pigs as 

 objectionable, and at variance with that well-known instinct of 

 the pig which induces it to keep its lair free fora its dung. 

 At Glasnevin, pigs thrive very well in this piggery, particularly 

 fattening pigs. 



Over one side of this piggery mixed breeds of poultry are 

 kept ; the heat evolved from the pigs keeps up the proper tem- 

 perature in winter. On the other hand, this arrangement was 

 objected to on the ground that the air, which is occasionally 

 unavoidably unpleasant, would be prejudicial to the healtli of 

 the poultry, but experience has shown this not to be the case, 

 which, however, may be attributed to the effective ventilation 

 of the house. 



A covered stair or passage rises from the manure yard on the 

 one side, and from the stack-yard on the other, by means of 

 which the poultry ascend or descend at pleasure. Strange fowls 

 require a little training to induce them to reach their roosting 

 and laying apartments, but it is interesting to witness how 

 soon they become accustomed to their ascents and descents. 



Immediately adjoining the piggeries is the calf-house, 21 feet 

 2 inches by 11 feet 8 inches, apportioned as follows : Passage, 

 5 feet wide, dividing six pens into two rows ; each pen is 8 feet 

 2 inches long by 3 feet 9 inches wide. In an angle of each pen 

 is a small rack for hay. 



After inspecting the calf-pens, the visitor next passes along 

 the open passage north of the barn and leading to the steaming 

 shed, which is 44 feet by 16 feet. The feeding passage in the 

 barn faces the doorway of this apartment. Metal vats were 

 also used ; but having lasted four years, they have been 

 replaced by two fixed wooden ones, for preparing linseed, bar- 

 ley, bean, or oatmeal gruel, and a galvanized metal one, which 

 turns on pivots, and is used for steaming roots. The latter is 

 placed over a sunk trough, in which the steamed ingredients 

 are mixed. This trough is 9 feet long, 3 feet 6 inches wide, 

 and two feet deep, and is lined with cement. The wooden vats 

 are 2 feet 9 inches diameter and 3 feet 4 inches deep. The 

 metal one is about the same size. In one corner of this shed is 



