222 How THE FARM PAYS. 



stall of ten by eight feet. The sides of the building will have wide 

 double doors ten feet apart opening to the passages, and at each end 

 there will be doors for letting the cattle in and out, and for taking out 

 manure from the end rows of pens. 



In the plan given, the roof is made with spaces between the eaves 

 of the valleys for collecting the rain water into gutters which carry it 

 into cisterns. About 100,000 gallons of water could be collected in 

 four fall and winter months with our rain-fall, and this supply would 

 be of considerable value, affording about eight gallons a day for each 

 head. But as the water would be gathered through the whole year, 

 if there was sufficient cistern room to save it, there would be enough 

 to supply all the wants of the cattle for the four months of the feeding 

 season. 



The plan for the side of the building is also given. In England 

 iron is cheaper than timber, durability and strength being considered. 

 But as timber is cheaper here than iron, the posts shown will be 

 made of timber. The foundations of the posts are stones bedded in 

 the ground or blocks of concrete. The foot of each post is fitted 

 into a cast iron socket, one inch smaller inside than the timber, the 

 timber being cut away to fit the socket makes an even joint, and 

 being bedded in paint preserves the wood from rotting. The floor of 

 the whole shed may be of gravel and clay well beaten, or, for a well 

 built shed, of concrete. An earthen floor, however, properly graded 

 to the gutters and drains, will be sufficient when plenty of litter is 

 furnished. Sheds of cheaper construction may be built to serve an 

 equally good purpose, excepting so far as regards durability. A 

 different arrangement may be made if desirable, which would greatly 

 reduce the cost, viz., the cattle may be kept loose in the shed, and 

 fed from racks and grain troughs on each side of a drive-way. With 

 this arrangement twice as many cattle could be kept in this shed, 

 three drive-ways only being made, one in the centre and one at 

 each side, leaving two large spaces for the cattle. But, as cattle feed 

 better and make more flesh when quiet and undisturbed, it is a ques- 

 tion if the plan of having stalls would not pay more profit, notwith- 

 standing its larger cost. The partitions between the stalls are 

 made of bars which are movable, so that when the cattle are taken 

 out the bars are removed, and wagons can be driven in all over to 

 take out the manure. 



FENCES. 



Another important matter to the farmer, somewhat allied to the 

 buildings, is the fences. Conditions are so varied that this is some- 

 thing in which the farmer will in most cases have to be guided as 



