60 THE FARM DAIRY. 



time, and as it is a simpler matter to put it all 

 down with one operation, it does not require so 

 much skilled labor. 



Comparison of Results. — ^In regard to the suc- 

 cess of this yard, at the end of three years there 

 is not a flaw in the cement work where we put 

 on the finishing coat as in sidewalk building, 

 but I do find a break in the work where we did 

 not put on the finishing coat. This convinces 

 me that it is best to build it as a sidewalk is 

 built. 



In the preparation of the yard for the con- 

 crete, I found a great difference of opinion, al- 

 most every one thinking it necessary to put in 

 a gravel or cinder foundation. My belief is that 

 it is simply necessary to keep the earth dry 

 under the concrete so it will not expand when 

 frozen and we accomplished this with tite. I 

 can truthfully state that I have never spent 

 money at my farm that has given me more sat- 

 isfaction than the money which I invested in 

 the concreted cow yards. We did not cover the 

 entire yard, but enclosed the concreted portion 

 so that we can confine the cows on it when the 

 outer yard is muddy. In dry weather we allow 

 the cows to go into the outside yard. 



Concrete Hog Feeding Floor.— While I was 

 paving my yard the owner of a farm near De- 

 Kalb told me the man who was renting her place 

 was asking for a platform on which to feed 



