THE BARN, PASTURE AND DAIRY. 83 



by a suitable provision of openings at the upper part of 

 the stable, and these should be made so as to be readily 

 opened and closed. A row of holes cut in the wall near 

 the upper floor, figure 103, and covered with a sliding- 

 board, having precisely the same kind and number of 

 holes to match those in the wall, will afford suitable ven- 

 tilation for the stable at all seasons. The covering board 

 slides back and forth on the pins shown, and covers or 

 opens the holes as may be desirable, according to the con- 

 dition of the weather. 



LIGHT NEEDED IN BARNS. 



Here and there we see an old-style barn, built by our 

 grandfathers, the only window being a single row of 

 panes over the large door. Through this comes all of the 

 light admitted to the barn, except what comes through 

 the open cracks between the boards. When a barn of this 

 kind is filled with hay ifc is comfortably warm, but very 

 dark; by midwinter the hay, being half consumed, leaves 

 the walls unprotected. With the light come in also the 

 cold wintry winds to chill the cattle. Our fathers built 

 some barns warmer, covering the walls with shingles or 

 the cracks with narrow battens. The light being thus 

 shut out, it was necessary to have windows; so they put in 

 just enough to enable them to see to feed their cattle. 

 It was left for our generation to build barns that are 

 tight, comfortable, and well-lighted. But even at pres- 

 ent many farmers do not realize the importance of light 

 in a cattle barn. Experiments show that a herd of milch 

 cows not only keep in better health and condition by 

 having plenty of light, but they give more milk. Every 

 barn should be provided with abundant light and sun- 

 shine on the side where the cattle stand. The practice, 

 which is far too prevalent, of keeping cows in a dark and 



