CHAPTER V. 



BARNS AND STABLES. 



The best arrangement of buildings for a sheep farm is a 

 matter of economy, for whatever is mos-t convenient for use 

 saves time and avoids waste of feed. A great waste of fod- 

 der may occur unless the feed racks are made on the best 

 plan to prevent it, and with a mere trough for the grain the 

 strongest sheep will push its way along, monopolizing the 

 most of it, and driving the rest of the flock before it deprive 

 them of a due share. This is a waste, and an injury to the 

 greedier feeder, while the weaklings of the flock are starved. 

 The structure of the whole building too is to be well studied 

 out, so thai it may be arranged on the most useful system. 



A few remarks on the general theory of sheep shelters 

 may be useful at the outset. There is no necessity for 

 heavy, costly barns or stables. Light structures with ample 

 floor space are the best in every way. And we are not 

 studying style at present, but simply the ways in which the 

 shepherd may use the money to the best advantage, and 

 with the utmost economy of time and labor in the general 

 care and attention given to the flock. 



The most space is contained in a square building, at 

 least as compared with longer and narrower ones. There is 

 most space for the length of outer wall in a round building; 

 and the octagon and hexagon, with their eight or six sides, 

 come next to the full square. The octagonal style of build- 

 ing is coming into favor for farm structures, and many are 

 adopting the round form for all kinds' of storage barns 

 and the accommodation of the live stock. The accompany- 

 ing sketch is of an octagonal building 29 feet in diameter, 

 of which the floor space gives 696 square feet. A square build- 

 ing with the wall 96 feet in length will give only 576 square 

 feet of space, and will be tAventy-four feet only in diameter. 

 A round barn of the same length of wall will give 732 feet 



