A MODEL nAlR^' T.ARN. 91 



DESCRIPTION OF A MODEL DAIRY BARN. 



1 he reader has doubtless ohserved, when riding througli the eountry, groups 

 of buildings whieh look more like a small village than a properly arranged plan 

 of farm buildings in which to house cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry, and to store 

 farm products and machinery. Has it ever occurred to you to question whether 

 the arrangement and equipment of these buildings have proven satisfact(jry to the 

 owner, in a measure proportionate to their cost? 



It is safe to say that ninety per cent of the owners of such buildings would 

 change their plans, owing to the fact that they had experienced inconveniences, 

 necessitating many unnecessary steps in the course of their daily duties in caring 

 for the live stock on the farm. 



Perhaps the first improvement suggesting itself to the mind of the live stock 

 owner would be to convert a number of small unhandy buildings into one large, 

 well-ventilated barn, insuring greater economy in construction and operation. The 

 second thought would be the elimination of the fonl, dark, dingy, disease-breeding 

 basement, by providing an abundance of sunlight through numerous windows, and 

 ample ventilation and good drainage. 



Light and ventilation arc as essential to the health of farm animals as they 

 are to ■human beings. Every farmer should make such changes in his old build- 

 ings as will provide these necessities in abundance. By studying the detailed 

 description of barn construction in this book, valuable suggestions along these 

 lines may be obtained for the purpose. 



While the writer was a boy on the farm, it was generally thought by the 

 people in that locality that the barns were quite modern and up-to-date ; but with 

 the passing years improvements have been made in every line, and the plans of 

 barns have also been greatly improved upon. 



Having conducted a veterinary practice in Waukesha County for more than 

 twenty years, and having visited many parts of the United States, the writer has 

 had exceptional opportunities for observing the most practical methods of planning 

 and building barns. 



During the year 1911 the writer purchased a tract of land located on the 

 interurban line between Waukesha and Milwaukee. This farm contained a number 

 of farm buildings which were located on the north side of the place. The location 

 of the electric line on the south side offered an inducement to shift the old build- 

 ings, but instead of moving these to a new location, they were left where they 

 were and a space of land was measured off for new structures, which consisted of 

 a dairy barn, a combined milk house and office, and a horse barn. 



After plans and specifications had been carefully prepared, showing in detail 

 the size, shape and cost of a new dairy barn, the first step taken was to drive a 180- 

 foot well down into the rock, insuring a bountiful supply of pure, cold water. A 

 convenient well is a great advantage in the erection of new farm buildings, for it 

 saves hauling water during the course of their construction, and it will be con- 

 veniently useful for years in supplying live stock on the farm. 



As the plans of the dairy barn provided for a wall of hard heads or granite 

 boulders, the next move was to gather as many of these as possible on the farm. 

 This is an excellent way of disposing of surplus stone. 



Before the walls of the barn were laid, all necessary drains from milk house, 

 wash room, cattle mangers, and gutters were put in place. One drain or sewer 

 is connected with the conductor pipes to carry ofl: the water from the roof of 

 the barn, and also connected with the cow mangers to carry ofif clean surplus 



