167 



keep the heads of the cattle separate ; the floor of the space is 

 raised three inches from the barn floor ; and in front of the 

 spaces is a plank eight inches wide, hung at the bottom so as 

 to fall off an inch when let down, in order to avoid clogging, 

 and shutting in between the posts, so as to prevent the food of 

 the cattle from being scattered over the floor. A wooden but- 

 ton on the posts holds each end of this plank in place. This 

 furnishes an easy mode of cleaning the feed boxes. The 

 drawing on page 164, by Mr. Emmerton, gives a correct view 

 of the arrangement — the most convenient the Committee could 

 devise. 



The working plans of the frame &c. have been omitted as 

 occupying too much room. 



The contract for building was made on the 6th of March, 

 1862, with Mr. John H. Potter of Topsfield, under the ac- 

 companying specifications and agreement : — 



SPECIFICATIONS FOR A BARN ON THE TREADWELL FARM IN 

 TOPSFIELD, FOR THE ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Size of Barn. — 60 feet in length by 40 feet in width; with 

 17 feet post. 



Roof. — Ten inches over one-third pitch. 



Projection. — Coving to project at eves and ends eighteen 

 inches, as per plan annexed. 



Framing. — The timber and joists of the frame to be as per 

 memorandum annexed, including quality and size ; to be framed 

 in five bays of twelve feet each ; the floor joists in the lower floor 

 to be framed as per plan ; the studding to be framed in not more 

 than twenty inches from center ; the small rafters to be framed 

 in not more than twenty-two inches from center ; the frame to 

 be pinned with white oak pins not less than one inch in size ; 

 and the scaffold girths to have two pins to each tenant, and to 

 be joined into the posts at the lower corner three-quarters of 

 an inch ; the scaffold joists to be framed in not more than 

 twenty inches from the center ; the scaffold enter-ties to be 

 fastened with iron joint-bolts to the inner and outer posts ; ex- 



