346 



PREMIUM BARN. 



port for the upper ends of the stable rafters. These 

 rafters are 20 feet long, leaving 2 feet to project over 

 the sides ami carry the water entirely away from the 

 sills. The beams which connect the outer posts of 

 the stables with those of the barn and tie the build- 

 ings snugly together, are ll> feet above the floor. 

 For the purpose of further security, every rafter 

 should be spiked at its foot to the stable plate, 

 and at its head into the girt on which it rests, be- 

 tiveen the main posts 

 of the barn, that there 

 may be no spreading 

 apart. The beams 

 over the stables are 

 floored to receive hay, 

 straw, corn-stalks, or 

 litter, for the cattle, 

 of which the lofts will 

 hold a large amount, 

 and hay doors should s 

 be made in every sec- § 

 ond bent, under the ^ 

 roof, outside, to re- " 

 ceive it from the carts < 

 or wagons. h 



The floor plan of § 

 the stables, by refer- ^ 

 ence to the drawings, "^ 

 will be readily under- ^ 

 stood. A passage ^ 

 way extends the whole "^ 

 length next to the g 

 barn, 4 feet in width. ^ 

 A short flight of steps ^ 

 accommodates the de- ^ 

 scent from the pass- g 

 ages at the ends of 

 the barn to those ia ^ , 

 the stables. This is ^ 

 tightly floored over, S 

 and receives the hay § 

 from the adjoining § 

 bays and loft. Next '^ 

 to this is the line of ^ 

 mangei-s 2 feet wide, g 

 into which, from the fc 

 passage beside them, m 

 is thrown the hay. 

 The space beyond is 

 divided into double 

 stalls, from 6 to 7 feet 

 wide, and of course 

 will contain more or 

 less of them according 

 to their width, which : -^'\/ 



will be determined 

 somewhat by the size 

 and kind of cattle kept in them. In the middle of 

 every bent in the stables, which will of course be 12 J 

 feet apart, excejit in that bent where is a door, is in- 

 serted a dung window, 18 inches long and 15 inches 

 high, closed by a sliding shutter inside. These stables 

 have each two doors, one at the front end and one as 

 above named, in the center bent on the sides. These 

 doors are 4 feet wide and run up 7 J feet to the level 

 of the girt supporting the floor above. 



The stalls are partitioned from the passage or al- 

 ley-way before described back 7 feet, with two-inch 

 plank or inch boards, if double, and 5 feet high, to 

 prevent the cattle interfering with each other. These 

 staUs are framed by laying two light sticks of timber, 

 say six inches square, parallel, the whole length of 

 the stables, upon the beams connecting the stables 

 and bam posts together. One of these parallel sticks 

 is exactly over the side of the manger next the alley; 

 the other 7 feet from it, into the stable. Either pin 

 or spike these pieces strongly to the beams ; then 

 frame small posts, say 3 by 6 inches (the thin sides 

 in the partitions) from the floor, perpendicularly, into 

 them ; and to these posts nail the partition planks. 

 These posts and planks should be sound, strong wood, 

 as the heaving and rubbing and wrenching upon 

 them by the cattle will be severe. The bottom of 

 the mangers should be about 18 inches above the 

 floor, for cattle, and 2 J feet for horses. They may 

 be either perpendicular in the sides or flaring towards 

 the top next the animal; this last is the better way. 

 Bottom supports and side elects should be well 

 spiked to the sides of the partition planks to hold 

 them. Planks 18 inches high in front and 2 feet 

 next the alley, will be high enough to enclose the 

 forage for the cattle. On the alley side a continuous 

 line of one inch boards, nailed to the partition 

 posts for the stalls will enclose that side of the man- 

 gers, and be stout enough, while 1^ or 2 inch planks 

 should be used next the cattle. A partition between 

 thie mangers should be made, so that each should 

 have its own separate allowance, where the cattle 

 stand together. This should be of stout plank also, 

 and as high as the front plank. The partitions of 

 the stalls of course keep the other sides of the man- 

 gers separate. The center of the plank of the man- 

 ger next the cattle should be slightly cut out, like a 

 new moon, to let the neck of the animal down while 

 feeding. On each side of the stall, next the manger, 

 a staple and ring should be inserted, into which to 

 secure the rope or chain which holds the animal. 

 By this course, the two cattle standing in the same 

 stall are kept as much apart, so far as interfering with 

 each other's food and goring is concerned, as if in 

 separate stalls, while they occupy less room, are more 

 comfortable and warmer in winter than if each had 

 a stall by itself If upright stanchions, which shut 

 in on each side of the neck are used, this will vary 

 the manger arrangement altogether; but as I disap- 

 prove that plan, I shall not further allude to it. Now, 

 to prevent the cattle climbing their feet into the 

 mangers, which they are very apt to do, spike a piece 

 of scantling or a flatted pole over the top of the 

 partitions, lengthwise, and perpendicularly over the 

 front of the manger, and the mangers are complete. 

 A passage of three feet at each end of the stable, 

 for access from the like passage in the barn is neces- 

 sary, and the outside of the outer stall should be set 

 that distance within. The comfort and cleanliness 

 of the cattle will be enhanced by sinking the floor 2 

 inches, 7 feet back from the mangers, so as to allow 

 the stale to pass off, and the dung to drop below the 

 floor they occupy; and this accomphshed, the stable 

 is finished. 



The adjoining sheds, attached by a section to the 

 rear of the barn, will be readily understood. A 



