146 



Farms in Denmark. 



[JUNE, 



The dimensions of the cattle byre are as follows : — The 

 whole width of the building is about 33 ft., which is allotted as 

 follows : — In the centre is a passage about 4 ft. wide, and about 

 18 in. above the floor level. This passage is utilised by the 

 attendant for the purpose of feeding into the bins on either side. 

 These bins are each about 2 ft. wide, and are partitioned, allow- 

 ing one for each beast. There are stanchions between each stall, 

 and the standing space for the cow itself is 6 ft. deep, and is on 

 a slope, so that all liquids, &c, quickly drain off into the drain 

 passage at the back of the stalls. This drain passage is about 

 1 1 ft. wide, having a drop from the floor of the stall of about 

 9 in. Then, again, beyond thi< drain, up to the wall of the 

 byre, is a passage for the attendant to remove the dung, and to 

 pass behind the cow. This passage would be about 5 ft. wide 

 as a rule, and also slopes downwards towards the drain. The 

 liquid manure collected in these drains is taken away by pipes 

 to the liquid manure pit. 



In all farms where over 30 milch cows are kept, the above is 

 the principle adopted ; by most farmers. Where the farms are 

 smaller the relative half of the above dimensions would be the 

 plan adopted. 



The manure is considered by farmers in Denmark one of 

 their largest assets, and such importance is attached to farmyard 

 manure that a lot of capital is often expended in order to save 

 and keep it on the most up-to-date principles. First, as regards 

 the liquid manure, as explained above, a channel runs at the 

 back of the cow stalls, and in this all manure collects. The 

 liquid manure, however, runs off to traps in the channels and 

 falls into a pipe leading to the liquid manure tank. The 

 following gives a general description of the liquid manure 

 pits : — They are built of brick and cement or concrete, and are 

 circular in shape, about 24 ft. in diameter, and about 20 ft. deep. 

 The bottom of the tank, however, slopes to a point which forms 

 a sump hole. If the farm is placed on a knoll, with a good 

 slope, the pit is placed at the highest possible point which will 

 admit of a good flow from the drains at the back of the cow- 

 stalls into the pit. A pipe is then run underground from the 

 bottom of the tank until it comes out on the surface of the lower 

 ground, and the earth is so cut away at that point as to admit of 



