19*22.] Planning and Construction of Coav-Sheds. 



18 in. wide made with a four-inch drop from the gangways and 

 a ten-inch chop from the standings, which are therefore raised 

 G in. above the floor of the gangways. 



It is found that the provision of the Yoke tie keeps the droppings 

 just about within the limits of the gutter and the writer was par- 

 ticularly struck with the cleanliness of the cows, especially notice- 

 able in, the case of the larger cows, although the standing is 

 5 ft. '2 in. in length on one side and only 5 ft. on the other. 

 The right width for the gutter is a debatable point but if con- 

 tinued observations show that 18 in. is effective instead of the 

 2 ft. often demanded it is obvious that in a double standing, a, 

 reduction of one foot in the width of the building is an effective 

 saving which again assists in compensating for the extra cost 

 of the fittings. 



To obviate excessive falls within the depth of the gutters them- 

 selves or the provision of cross channels and extra outlets advan- 

 tage was taken of a natural fall in the ground, the whole floor 

 sloping slightly towards the mixing floor and in the direction 

 of the manure tank. Few sites are absolutely level and if advan- 

 tage can be taken of a natural slope it is both economical and 

 conducive to efficiency to adopt this method rather than construct 

 a level floor with increased depth in the gutters. 



A Suggested Standard Cow-House. — While making no claims 

 to any striking innovations, the Hucknajl design certainly offers 

 possibilities of further development along economical structural 

 lines, and its practical success in economic service and cleanli- 

 ness led to the suggestion, that it might prove of service if the 

 same principles of construction and arrangement were applied 

 to a design for a shed to contain a larger herd of some 40 or 50 

 cows. 



Two Schemes were therefore prepared by the Building Branch 

 of the Ministry to show the comparative merits of both head to 

 head and tail to tail planning, and advantage was taken of the 

 practical experience gained at Hucknall to introduce various 

 modifications in detail whereby improvement could be effected. 



Diagrams and slides made from these designs were utilised in 

 a course of lectures given to the various University Agricultural 

 Departments in England and Wales last winter, and aroused so 

 much interest that it was thought desirable to prepare ;i model 

 of each type for exhibition at the Royal Agricultural Show at 

 Cambridge in July. These models have been prepared by Mr. 

 L. C. Powell in the Ministry's drawing oflice and .-ire constructed 



