SHEEP BABNS. 123 



a much drier basement than a mason-laid stone wall, which 

 often conducts moisture and frost to the inside, whilst the 

 basement with concrete wall is as dry as if wooden-walled. 



The advantage of the new style long barn is that it may 

 be extended at any time without any change in its con- 

 struction. Such a barn 40 x 40 would accommodate 150 

 merinos or 100 long-wools. This basement, with a double 

 rack and trough through the center, dividing it into two 

 apartments, will furnish room for 75 on each side, or if 

 40x60 feet, would provide room for 225 merinos or 150 

 Cotswold or Leicesters. 



This barn, with its floor lengthwise, furnishes a very con- 

 venient means, by its door-trap through the floor, of drop- 

 ping the fodder into the double rack below. Here is also 

 abundant room for storing a full supply of fodder, and of 

 grain or other feed for fattening purposes. The floor over a 

 sheep stable should be dust tight, keeping the wool free 

 from dust; and one of the best ways to make a floor dust- 

 tight is to place pine lath under the joints of the boarding 

 across the joists, and a piece on the joists under each board. 

 The lath laps on each board three-quarters of an inch, 

 and thus makes a tighter floor than one that is matched. 

 The lath is nailed to the under side of the floor between 

 the joists. 



DOUBLE SHEEP BACK. 



The form of rack from which to feed sheep is somewhat 

 important. It should be so constructed as to save all the 

 fodder, and to prevent the hay-seed and dust from getting 

 into the wool. The author has constructed a double rack 

 and trough which is represented in fig. 15. This is an end 

 view and will readily be understood. 



Scantling 5 feet 8 inches long are placed about 30 inches 

 apart. 



a. Plank IK x 8 inches for the bottom of the trough. 



I. Sliding board, reaching down and nailed to the 



