NEW FITTINGS OF THE COW STABLE. 25 



The lower door in front, through which grain and silage are 

 fed is fourteen inches wide, and its lower edge is twelve inches 

 from the floor. The upper door through which the hay -is fed 

 is eighteen inches wide and the space between it and the lower 

 door is twenty inches. The doors are hinged at the upper 

 edges and shut down, to avoid the crowding at the hinges, 

 caused by chaff, etc., when hung to shut up. The animals are 

 fastened by leather head halters, the ropes of which are two and 

 one-half feet long, to the ring placed in the edge of the bottom 

 of the feed rack. 



The floor in the front part of the stall is swept clean before 

 feeding the grain and silage, which are put directly on the floor. 

 The animal steps forward putting its hind feet in front of the 

 cross piece and eats the grain or silage and then, lifting its head 

 is forced to step back over the cross piece in order to stand 

 comfortably. The animal rarely voids while standing forward 

 eating from the floor, but does so while standing back. When 

 they are first put into the stalls they will sometimes lie down on 

 the cross pieces but they get up very quickly and seek more 

 comfortable positions by stepping in front of the bar and lying 

 there, where there is plenty of room and comfort. 



After the cows had been in their quarters about a month and 

 had become accustomed to lying forward in the stalls, the cross 

 pieces were removed. This was done several weeks ago, yet 

 they have all continued to step forward when about to lie down, 

 precisely as they did when the cross pieces were in place. How 

 long they will continue to do so without the cross pieces to 

 prompt them remains to be seen. The only objection to the cross 

 pieces is that they are somewhat in the way of the milkers until 

 they become accustomed to them. When leaving their stalls 

 animals back out into or across the two inch deep manure 

 trench without hesitation. 



Our experience, thus far, with these stalls is very satisfactory. 

 The animals have much freedom, as they step back and forth 

 the length of their halters, and are able to reach back and lap 

 themselves much to their satisfaction. They require but little 

 carding and brushing to keep them clean, and while lying down 

 they are safe from the injuries liable to be inflicted by their 

 over-crowding- mates. 



