STABLING SUITABLE FOR CATTLli 349 



mon idea of a basement stable is that it forms the ground 

 story of a barn and that of necessity the basement space 

 has been made by removing the earth from the side of a 

 hill or bank. Such excavation is not always necessary. 

 A basement stable, or more properly a basement barn, 

 for the two are built in conjunction, may be defined as 

 a structure in which stabling is provided for live stock 

 and frequently storage for roots in the lower story, the 

 coarse fodders and grain being stored above. 



When constructing basement stables, it is desirable 

 to build more or less against a hill, but they may be 

 built also on level ground. In some instances the side 

 of the stable is built into the bank, and in other instances 

 the end of the same, dependent on the nature of the 

 structure. But in no instance is it wise to have the base- 

 ment excavated so far into the hill as to exclude in any 

 considerable degree the admittance of light into any part 

 of the same. When the basement is placed against a 

 steep bank, on that side light may be admitted by placing 

 each window opposite to an excavation made in the bank 

 in order to admit light. The material for the walls of 

 basements built into a hill should be of stone, brick, or 

 cement, to resist decay and to provide warmth in winter 

 and coolness in summer. The structure above may be of 

 any material desired. 



When the basement is built on level ground, the 

 walls may be of any of the materials just named, or of 

 wood. When of wood, in cold areas, building paper or 

 tar paper is usuallv put under the boards which com- 

 pose the siding. Ii_ -ome instances it may also be neces- 

 sary to make an air space in the wall by sheeting on the 

 inside of the studs to prevent a film of frost or ice from 

 coating the walls inside. When basement stables are thus 

 built on level or nearly level ground, an approach or drive- 

 way of considerable length is necessary in order to drive 

 loads into the story above the basement. This, of course, is 

 made of earth, and if, when constructing it, a space of. 



