LIVE STOCK AND DAIRY 105 



slope to the foot should platform and driveway have tozvard the gutter? 

 Should the bottom of the gutter be level or should it slope toward one 

 side, and if so, to which side? How much slant should the floor have 

 lengthwise to give sufficient fall for flushing out the gutters? What 

 finish is best for concrete to prevent cows from slipping? Will use 

 steel stanchions. Is it best to use swivels in the chain hangings or not? 



The height of your back wall is satisfactory, but build the first 

 four feet out of concrete, making a wall about 'four inches thick. 

 This will allow flushing off any manure that may splatter against the wall. 

 Windows, for ventilation and light, should be placed above this concrete, 

 with provision made for opening or closing them. Five feet instead of 

 four feet should be allowed for the walk back of the gutter, as it will 

 give you more room for driving cows in or out, while others are in 

 stanchions. The walls of the gutter should be the same height on 

 both sides, preferably 2 l / 2 or 3 inches, and the entire gutter should 

 slope with the floor of the barn. Deep gutters are not desirable as cows 

 are more apt to receive injuries from slipping into them. The bottom 

 of the gutter should slope slightly toward the outside wall, allowing the 

 liquid manure to drain off from the solid matter. Build your platform 

 5 feet wide, and by having swivel stanchions you can regulate the distance 

 between stanchion and gutter to conform with the size of your cows. 

 The dimensions you give for the curb are satisfactory, but make about 

 a 2-inch hole in the bottom of each manger, thus allowing an outlet 

 for water used in flushing. We see no reason for having feeding alley con- 

 vex in shape. A two-inch slope from manger to gutter should drain your 

 floor satisfactorily, and about six inches slope to the 100 feet will be 

 satisfactory for the gutter and floor. If not over 50 feet long, drain 

 floor and gutter to one end, but if say 100 feet long, have floor and 

 gutter slope to center of barn, using a drain at that point to carry 

 manure and liquid out of the barn. A rough floated cement finish is most 

 satisfactory for platform and walks in cow stables, as it prevents slipping. 

 Use the swivel stanchions as they allow more comfort for the cow 

 while in the barn. 



Estray Law. 



What are the necessary steps to be taken in advertising an animal 

 under the estray law of California? 



The present estray law of California provides that any person tak- 

 ing up an animal "shall confine same in a secure place and within a 

 week thereafter shall publish in some newspaper of general circulation, 

 printed and published in the county in which such estray is found, and 

 also file with the County Recorder of said county a notice containing 

 a description of the animal or animals taken up, with the marks and 

 brands, if they have any, together with the probable value of such 

 animal, and a statement of the place where the taker-up found and where 

 he has confined the same. * * * The said notice shall be so published 

 for two weeks. * * * If, however, the animal has the owner's mark or 

 brand upon it, and such brand or mark has been recorded according to 

 law, or if the finder knows the owner of said animal, or the person 



