FARM-BUILDINGS. 125 



FARM-BUILDINGS. 



Those who are planning new buildings for agricul- 

 tural purposes will do well to consider the subject in 

 all its bearings ; the first outlay, the comfort of their 

 cattle, the capacity of the buildings, the facilities for 

 filling them, and the conveniences for feeding out ta 

 the stock. 



The first outlay should be in proportion to the size 

 of the farm, and the probable amount of its productions ; 

 but, let its size be great or small, never fail to have a 

 cellar under the whole. If possible, set your barn on 

 a side hill. If none is near you, make one, so that 

 you may drive in a loaded cart many feet higher than 

 the bottom of your bay. This will enable you to 

 unload your hay with half the labor which is often- 

 employed for the purpose, and allow you to keep most 

 of your hands in the field, Avhile one only drives up to 

 the barn and unloads, in that most important portion 

 of the day, — from 1 to 5 P. M. One hour's labor at 

 this time of day is often worth a dollar, when a shower 

 is coming : it is therefore vv^orth your while so to con- 

 trive your barns as to save many of these hours. Fur- 

 ther, by having a large bay below your barn-fioors, and 

 no one to beat down the hay when pitched off", you 

 may cart it in at least one hour sooner than you can 

 when you are obliged to stow it close. This is often 

 of great importance ; and, if you have not saved a 

 sprinkling by it, you have probably saved the labor of 

 another opening of the hay to the sun. 



The second point is the comfort of your cattle. By 

 comfort, we do not mean lying all night and half the 

 day-time on a plank floor, in a barn so tight as to suifo- 

 cate them. Cattle need fresh air for breathing ; but, 

 if you match the boards tight on your barn, you are 

 obliged to keep the doors or windows open on them ; 

 and this partial exposure is much more injurious to. 



