100 THE dairyman's MANUAL. 



ward and kept free from snow and ice. The yard is on 

 high ground and the water is carried from all the build- 

 ings into cisterns, so that the yard is always dry. 



The cows stand fastened in short stalls by means of 

 chains stretched across the front of the stalls and having 

 a ring at each end, which slides on long iron bars in the .^ 

 stanchions, and a ring and snap hook in the middle. 

 The cows have strong leather straps around their necks, 

 with a ring fastened in each. This ring is fastened to 

 the snap hook in an instant, and the cow can move her 

 head very freely, but cannot reach over into the next stall 

 to rob her neighbor or punch her. The feed trough is 

 also divided by a prolongation of the partition of the 

 stall, so as to confine each cow's food to herself. A 

 sloping board along the front of the feed trough guides 

 the cut feed emptied from the feed basket, which holds 

 a bushel, into each section. It is a very few minutes' 

 work to mix the cut hay or fodder, prepared the night 

 before, with the water and the meal in the feed box and 

 distribute a basket of it to each cow\ We have done this 

 easily before breakfast in fifteen minutes, feeding the 

 whole fifteen cows, and the bull and several calves besides. 

 This arrangement provides everything convenient for the 

 cows .and the owner, and leaves nothing to be desired. 

 There is ample room for work, for the cows, and for the 

 feed. The floor is dry, warm, and easily kept clean and 

 free from odor. The gutters are emptied very quickly,' 

 swT-pt out with a stiff broom — of the kind used for city 

 streets, and which fits the gutter — dusted freely with 

 plaster from a barrel kept on the floor at the far end, 

 and is at once littered with clean sawdust, leaves, or cut 

 straw from the storeroom at tlie end of the stable. Ven- 

 tilation IS provided when it is needed by opening the 

 windows a trifle at the top or bottom, or by opening 

 slides in the wall opposite the cows. A ventilating shaft, 

 which can be closed in stormy weather, also aids in re- 



