5i8 THE CONTROL OF THE MILK SUPPLY 



particular, if the milk supply of England is to be a pure one. 

 Generally we may state the requirements to be: — ia) that the 

 conditions of life under which cows pass the winter shall be as 

 natural as possible ; {U) that the cow byre shall be constructed with 

 a view to thorough cleanliness, and smooth impervious floors and 

 walls are as essential to this requirement as abundant light ; and 

 {c) that as regards purity of atmosphere the desideratum is equable 

 and efficient ventilation rather than cubic capacity. For the con- 

 venience of those who may desire details in amplification of these 

 principles (hygiene, cleanliness, light, air, etc.) we quote some of 

 the particulars issued by the Sanitary Committee of the West 

 Riding of Yorkshire in 1901 (Dr J. R. Kaye).^ Such suggestions 



^ /. New Buildings, or premises proposed to be newly occupied as Cowsheds. 



Construction. — The walls should be covered internally to a height of 4 feet 

 6 inches with a smooth impervious material, so as to provide an easily washable 

 surface. The roof should be externally covered with slate or tiles (not corrugated 

 iron, because of the difficulty in regulating temperature, etc.). Gutters or spouts 

 should be provided to carry the rain water to a fall pipe, which should not dis- 

 charge into the midden but into the surface drainage system so as to avoid 

 dampness of walls and foundations. In places where other water supply is not 

 convenient the rain water might be conducted into a cistern, and used for cleans- 

 ing the manure channel, floor, etc. 



The distance of the cowshed from dwelling-houses, schools, workshops, or 

 public buildings should not be less than 25 feet. The cowshed should have two 

 sides at least free from obstruction, so as to admit of free lighting and ventila- 

 tion. The building should be not less than 8 feet high internally at the eaves. 

 The width or distance between the front and back main walls should be sufficient 

 to allow for a feeding passage between the wall and manger, a trough manger 

 and hay-rack, stall, a manure trench, and a cleansing passage. For example : — 



3 feet 3 inches to 4 feet for the passage between the wall and manger. 



2 feet for the trough manger and brick work. 



5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet for the stall. 



2 feet to 2 feet 6 inches for the manure trench, which should be 3 inches deep 



and carried from one end of the shed to the other. 

 5 feet to 5 feet 6 inches for the cleansing passage. 



Where a double row of stalls is wanted, the section might be the duplicate of 

 the above, with the exception that the raised passage in the centre for general 

 use might remain at 5 feet 6 inches in width. 



The width of each stall should be about 4 feet for a single cow, and from 6 

 feet 3 inches to 7 feet for a double stall. 



Lighting. — Light should penetrate every nook and corner. To obtain this 

 every cowshed should be provided with windows, or lights in the roof Three 

 square feet of window space per cow is suggested as a good working average. 



Ventilation. — The windows should be so constructed that one-half will open 

 inwards so as to admit air and deflect it upwards above the animals. It is well 

 to provide a number of permanent openings in the walls, so designed that the 



