1909.] The Construction of Cow Houses. 



539 



A good method for utilising the urine is to have a tank 

 close to the dungstead into which all leakage from it should 

 run, and into which the drain from the cow-house should 

 discharge. A urine tank in such a position permits of the 

 contents being distributed over the top of the manure heap, 

 when there is not a suitable piece of land to apply it to. 

 One of the most economical methods of utilising urine is to 

 spread it on permanent hay meadows. If so utilised it may 

 be carted on, but better results will be obtained and less labour 

 will be required if the urine can be diluted with water, and 

 spread over the land by small irrigation channels. 



Water Supply. — The best supply is by gravitation from 

 some perennial spring at a higher level, after which come 

 supplies from streams, lakes or ponds. In many cases springs 

 and rivers at a lower level can be utilised, and part of their 

 contents conveyed to the farm by a ram or windmill. These 

 sources are only available for a limited area of the country, 

 and in the majority of cases the average farm has to depend 

 on well water. In such circumstances a sufficient supply 

 should be provided in storage tanks at such a height as will 

 permit of it being distributed to the cow-house and milk- 

 cooler. 



Internal Designs. — The utility of every building will in 

 great part depend far more on the design adopted than on 

 the materials used in the construction of it. Expensive 

 materials may be used in the construction of a cow-house, 

 yet owing to the imperfection of the design very unsatis- 

 factory results may be obtained. On the other hand, very 

 plain materials, if worked up into a good design, may give 

 very satisfactory results. While excellence in materials 

 should always be aimed at, much more will depend on the 

 design than the materials. 



The method of stalling the animals adopted in Fig. 1 

 is one of the oldest, and at the same time one of the most 

 approved, more particularly where existing farm buildings 

 are being utilised for cow-houses. Many ordinary farm 

 buildings are from 18 to 20 feet wide, and where it is desired 

 to transform them into a cow-house this can usually be 

 accomplished at a very moderate expense. Where, however, 

 a new building is being erected, it will be more economical 



