67 



watering the cattle ; besides, the more comfortably they are 

 kept the better they will thrive, and the cows will give much 

 more milk. 



Among other improvements of the present day are barn 

 cellars, which are of great importance, as it not only saves the 

 solid manure from being dried by the wind, and washed by 

 the rain, but the liquids, which are of nearly as much value as 

 the solid parts, can be mostly saved by applying muck or some 

 other material by which it can be absorbed and applied to the 

 land. 



Also a portion of the cellars may be used for roots, vegeta- 

 bles or other purposes, such as circumstances and location will 

 permit and the wants of the owner require. 



Another consideration in favor of barn cellars is, it costs 

 little or nothing to keep them in repair. The roof of a build- 

 ing is not only expensive but soon goes to decay, therefore it 

 seems desirable and economical to have as much available 

 space under the same roof as possible. 



About thirty-five or forty years ago, the Hon. Moses Newell 

 of West Newbury, built a large barn, with a cellar under it, 

 for which he received a premium or gratuity from the Essex 

 Agricultural Society. It was then considered a model barn. 



Since that time, most of the barns which have been built in 

 the county are nearly on the same plan ; floor lengthwise the 

 barn, stalls for cattle and horses on one side, and hay on the 

 other, with cellar under and such other arrangements as circum- 

 stances seem to require and the opinion of the owner to 

 dictate. 



There have been four applications for premium, — Horace 

 C. Ware of Salem, John Day, jr., of Boxford, Eldred S. 

 Parker and Thomas Balch of Groveland. 



The barns of Mr. Parker and Mr. Balch are in common 

 form, with cellars under, cattle fed from the floor. The fix- 

 tures in. and around the barns are very convenient, showing a 

 good degree of thought and wisdom in the arrangement. 



Mr. Day's barn, as will be seen from his statement, is 



