270 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



placing a layer of some non-conducting material, such as build- 

 ing paper, an inch or so beneath the surface. This may be 

 done as follows : lay the cement as usual until within one and 

 one-half inches of the desired thickness. Now lay down one 

 thickness of heavy building paper, leave a strip at least six 

 inches wide, along the edge next to the gutter. Paint this build- 

 ing paper with asphaltum paint, then lay down another thick- 

 ness of the paper. Spike this paper down, leaving the heads of 

 the spikes sticking up about one-half inch above the paper. Put 

 on the remainder of the cement and proceed as though the 

 paper was not there. This paper need be put only where the 

 cattle lie. Figs. 85 and 86 show good cement construction. 



Watering device. — There are many devices on the market 

 for keeping a constant supply of water before the animal. 

 The question of their use depends largely on the ease of 

 keeping them clean. In many cases they are provided with 

 tops which the cow soon learns to raise and which fall down 

 and cover the device when she is not drinking, but these do 

 not keep the water clean. The cow with her mouth partially 

 full of grain or hay often opens the lid and slobbers the grain 

 into the water. This material soon decays and the device 

 becomes a trap for foul-smelling water. Perhaps the safest and 

 most convenient plan is to have a large tank located near by. 

 This can be easily cleaned, the water kept fresh and cool in 

 summer, and the chill easily driven off in winter. 



THE SILO 



The silo has passed the experimental stage, and the economy 

 as well as the practicability of preserving fodder in it has been 

 fully demonstrated. Silage is a valuable food, and is relished 

 by all classes of farm animals, but is more particularly adapted 

 to ruminating animals like the dairy cow. In fact, in order 

 to secure maximum production, some kind of succulent food is 

 necessary, and ordinarily silage will be found the most efficient 



