538 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



attended to are to provide sufficient conveniences, without incur- 

 ring great expense. Such buildings should be cheap and simple 

 in their form, and have a regularity of appearance. 



Barns may be from twenty to forty feet wide, with height and 

 length proportioned to tlie quantity of materials that are to be 

 stowed. Air should likewise be freely admitted into them on 

 dilferent sides, by means of slides or other contrivances. The 

 construction of the floors must be particularly attended to, in 

 order that they may be firm and dry. When made of plank, 

 they can be laid on a foundation of brick or stone this makes 

 them secure and free from damp. Well tempered bricks laid 

 edgeways make a good floor. Where the situation of the ground 

 will permit, cow houses and other similar offices may be on the 

 ground floor, and the hay lofts above. Barns must be so arranged 

 that loads of grain or hay may be drawn on the barn floor, which 

 expedites unloading nearly two loads to one. 



Granaries should be strongly built, and sufficiently large for 

 the reception of one-half of the annual produce of the farm. In 

 the construction and fitting up stables for farm horses, it is not 

 necessary to attend particularly to elegance. It is sufficient to 

 provide them comfortable and convenient habitations, well venti- 

 lated, perfectly clean, and thoroughly drained. In regard to the 

 mangers and racks, they should not b3 particularly spacious, as 

 servants are apt to fill them with hay no matter how large they 

 may be; from which bad consequences ensue; much hay is pulled 

 down and trodden under foot, besides injuring the horses by 

 permitting them continually to stuff themselves with hay. They 

 should never have more in their racks than they will eat clean. 

 Racks should never incline far outward, as the seeds are not 

 only wasted but very apt to fall into the horses' eyes and ears, 

 producing disagreeable effects. Mine are perpendicular, all 

 moving on a pivot with a grate beneath, and boxes under to 

 catch the seed. Racks of this sort may be placed before nitches 

 in the middle of the stalls, or in the corners or angles. 



It is also unnecessary to make the manger the same width as 

 the stalls, as a drawer eighteen inches long and fourteen inches 

 wide, will answer the purpose. It may readily be taken out 



