No. 4.] DAIRY CATTLE. 81 



Mr. Stetson (of Lakeville). I would like to ask Gov- 

 ernor Hoard what form of fastening he would recommend 

 while cows are in the stable. I see he objects to rigid stan- 

 chions, which I do myself. 



Ex-Governor Hoard. The question is asked, what form 

 of a fastening I would recommend ? I am a little loath to 

 state that, but I do not know that I ought to be. I have 

 been experimenting for many years on a form of stable, and 

 I adopted one about four years ago which satisfies me the 

 best of any. This form I have published two or three times 

 in the "Dairyman," owing to urgent solicitation, with expla- 

 nations and cuts. 



The excellence of this plan of tying cows over the stan- 

 chion plan is found as follows : — 



(1) The cow has three and one-half feet in width of stall 

 and perfect liberty and comfort of position. 



(2) By virtue of the bar across the stall floor, which will 

 be seen just forward of the hind feet of the standing cow, the 

 animal has always a dry, clean bed to lie in, thus keeping 

 her as clean from manure in winter as though she was in a 

 June pasture. 



(3) By this system each cow is protected when lying 

 down from having her teats and udder stepped on by her 

 standing neighbor. This is one of the most productive 

 sources of injury that is known, and of itself should condemn 

 the rigid stanchion. 



The cut represents one row of cows facing another row. 

 A closely boarded partition about four feet high fqrms the 

 front of the stall. Each cow has three and one-half feet in 

 width. The floor is made tight and there is no drop in the 

 rear of cows, except the thickness of one plank, which is the 

 double floor of the stall. The feeding rack is constructed for 

 two purposes: (1) To contain any hay or roughage that 

 may be fed the cow. The slats are put on wide enough so 

 the cow can easily get her nose between them. (2) To force 

 the cow when standing to stand with her hind feet in rear of 

 the cross bar across the stall floor. In constructing the feed- 

 ing rack nail a 2x8 piece of scantling edgewise against the 

 board partition. This constitutes the bottom of the rack 

 and should be placed about forty inches from the floor. Place 



