CHAPTER IV. 



HOLLAND DUTCH FARM HOUSES AND STABLES METHODS OF HANDLING HAY 

 MAKING STABLING IN HOLLAND. 



The Dutch farmhouses are immense structures, usually inclosing from 8,000 

 to 20,000 square feet of ground under a single roof. Their outside walls are built 

 of brick, and are from six to seven feet high. On these walls the rafters 

 rest, and rise steeply to the ridgepoles. They are covered with brick tiles, or 

 with heavy thatch made of coarse grass reeds from the marshes. On approach- 

 ing them they are invariably found surrounded with deep ditches often from 15 

 to 20 feet wide. These are partially filled with water so dark in color that the 

 bottom cannot be seen. Over them bridges are thrown, usually traversed with 

 strong gates heavily bolted. Some of the houses recently built have an ell, or 

 wing, thrown out from one side or end, for the exclusive use of the family. In 

 looking upon them from a distance, they appear like great brick-colored tents 

 scattered over the landscape. 



On entering these structures, you find on one side the cattle stalls ; on 

 another side the family and dairy rooms ; in the center, without flooring, the 

 haymows ; and in other parts, horse stalls, calf pens, granaries and spaces for 

 farm machinery. Sometimes there is stationary machinery for churning, 

 pumping water, etc., by horse power. The side occupied by the family has 

 windows and doors like dwelling houses in America. The side occupied by the 

 cattle stalls is pierced with smaller windows in front of each stall. On the side 

 leading to the haymow large double doors are found, and far up in the roof the 

 ridgepole is seen pierced with ventilators. Entering the family rooms, you find 

 them kept neatly, and some of them furnished with beautiful carpets and orna- 

 mental furniture. Your reception is very hospitable, perhaps more courteous 

 and dignified than among American farmers. There seems to be a peculiar 

 calmness and restfulness pervading everything. There is, perhaps, no country 

 in the world, and no vocation, that is loved with the depth of feeling that these 

 dairymen have for their land and their calling. Their children are nurtured in 

 the same love, and rarely marry with any one not of the same calling. Thus, 

 from father to son, and from mother to daughter, from generation to genera- 

 tion, descend the aptitudes and characteristics of these people that have done 

 so much to make this breed what it is today. 



In Holland cattle are kept in these farmhouses, at the present time, only in 

 winter. They never enter them in summer. They are kept with marvelous 

 neatness. The peculiar construction of the stables, and especially the method 

 of fastening that prevails, greatly facilitates thus keeping them. Each stall is 

 designed for two cows, one fastened to the right, the other to the left ; one 

 milked, while in the stable, on the left side, the other on the right. They stand 

 with their heads toward the outside wall. A small window in this wall between 

 each pair lets in the air and light as needed. There are no mangers or perma- 

 nent feeding troughs before them. Their food is all carried in from behind, 

 between them, and laid on the floor on which they stand, within easy reach of 

 their heads. Sometimes a narrow trough extends along the outside wall a few 

 inches from the floor into which water is pumped for watering them by means 

 of power located in another part of the building ; otherwise, they are watered 

 in pails also carried in between them from behind. The windows between 

 them are usually draped neatly with cheap curtains, showing woman's care and 

 taste in their arrangement. 



A row of such stalls upon a platform raised about two feet from the ground, 

 extending along the side of the building, and partitioned from the rest of the 

 farmhouse, constitutes the stable. The stall partitions extend back from the 

 outside wall to near the hips of the cows as they naturally stand in their stalls. 

 From two to two and a half feet farther back a deep trench runs along behind 

 the cows at right angles with these partitions the whole length of the stable. 

 This is usually about two feet broad, and of the same depth. It slightly 

 descends the whole length, and at the lower end opens outwardly to the manure, 



f22) 



