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Most dairymen now consider it the best practice to preserve tlie fertilizing 

 value of liquid manure by the use of absorbents, such as cut straw, shavings, etc. 



The method of handhng liquid manure by draining into a cistern is no 

 longer considered favorably, because of the difficulty in handling. 



Plank Frame Barns 



There are many types of dairy barns, with many modifications of each 

 type. But of late years the plank frame barn, in one form or another, has 

 become the most popular. 



Since its construction is not as well known as some of the other types, we 

 are devoting space to this special class of buildings. The principal reasons 

 for the building of the plank frame barn are : 



1 . The fact that it saves in cost of lumber. 



2. It provides far more storage room in the hayloft. 



3. Is much more easily built than any other type, if the correct 



method of erection is followed. 



In building the plank frame barn, ordinarily no piece of timber is used 

 thicker than two inches. Girders, trusses, purlines and tie plates are built up 

 of two or more 1 5^-inch to 2-inch planks, four to twelve inches wide if barn is 

 not wider than forty feet. 



With the scarcity of heavy timbers and their consequent high cost, it is 

 worth while for farmers to study this newer method of framing. 



With the old-style heavy timber framing, the cutting of the mortise and 

 tenon joints required much skill and labor. Since a truss, like a chain, can 

 be no stronger than its weakest point, many of the heavy timber frames are 

 not as strong as they may appear — the joints being only as strong as the 

 thickness of the timber in the tenon. 



The girders built up of planks retain the full strength of all of the timber, 

 and are as satisfactory as the solid timber girders of the same area. 



The use of modern hay carrying machinery calls for barns with open 

 centers. In the plank frame barn there are no cross beams nor heavy sup- 

 porting timbers to interfere with such machinery. 



With this style of framing one man can do as much work in mowing away 

 hay as three with the old-style frame, there being no obstructions to interfere 

 with and delay the work and it not only requires less help to put the hay into the 

 barn, but it requires less labor to take it out. 



This open loft also provides far more storage space. 



The photographs and blue prints herewith should make the method of 

 building the plank frame barn quite clear; and if you could see such a barn 



