DAIRY INSPECTION 139 



ceiling 9 feet high, would provide 567 cubic feet of air 

 space per cow. With the cows standing in two rows, the 

 stable would be 36 feet wide, which is not too wide for it 

 to be well lighted if windows are placed on both sides. 

 It will therefore be seen that the necessary area of floor 

 space to make the cows comfortable and the stable work 

 convenient will also provide a fair amount of cubic air 

 space. 



(c) Interior Construction. The material used in 

 the construction of the ceiling, walls, floor, platform, feed 

 trough, drop or gutter, and stall fittings, their state of 

 repair and their condition in regard to cleanliness should 

 be noted. While defects and deficiencies in stable con- 

 struction may be overcome to a considerable extent by 

 careful and painstaking methods, at the same time a 

 properly constructed and conveniently arranged stable 

 saves labor and therefore encourages the practice of good 

 methods ; it also adds to the comfort of the cows and con- 

 sequently increases their productiveness. 



The ceiling should be tight and smooth, plastered, 

 painted, oiled, or whitewashed, and free from cobwebs. 

 There is no objection to storing hay or fodder above the 

 cow stable if the ceiling is tight. It is better not to have 

 any openings in the ceiling through which hay, fodder 

 or straw may be thrown down into the stable; but if 

 there must be such openings, they should be in front of 

 the cows and not in the rear. 



The walls should be smooth and clean. It is desirable 

 to have the inner surface of the walls back of the cows 

 finished smooth with cement for at least 4 feet above the 

 floor and covered with an impervious paint from which 

 dirt can be readily removed by washing. Where paint or 

 cement cannot be used, the application of whitewash will 



