Barn Construction. 121 



HANDLING THE MANURE. 



The points we wish to study are how to build a 

 barn adapted to soiling, with the view of reducing 

 the cost of labor to a minimum, which it is well to 

 do in the construction of all farm buildings where 

 labor for any purpose is employed. 



The question of barn construction as to the econ- 

 omy of handling the manure is a problem worthy of 

 our attention. The most economical plan is to cart 

 the manure directly from the stable to the field, 

 and spread it broadcast in the one handling. It is 

 not always convenient to do this, and at some sea- 

 sons of the year the land is not in condition to re- 

 ceive it. However, during the greater part of the 

 year, it may be carted directly from the stable to the 

 field and spread from the wagon. I believe that 

 there is no more effective way of manuring the land, 

 and getting the greatest good from barnyard manure, 

 than to spread it broadcast on the ground as fast as 

 made, either summer or winter. I have demon- 

 strated this several times. A manure spreader is a 

 most convenient and labor-saving machine, espe- 

 cially when this system of delivering is adopted. 



My idea of a trench behind the cattle is to have it 

 deep and narrow, instead of, as usual, wide and shal- 

 low. A deep, narrow trench prevents cows stand- 

 ing in it with their hind feet. It holds two or three 

 days' droppings without soiling the cows when they 



