Method of converting old Barns into Cattle- Boxes. 251 
and most approved principle, and have also seen some of the 
best cattle-feeding establishments in the kingdom, yet I assert 
that practically, for both summer and winter feeding of cattle of 
different ages under cover, I have seen nothing to equal the 
advantages to be derived from an old barn properly fitted up, 
^the roof being usually so much higher than that of buildings 
specially designed for box-feeding. The accompanying illustra- 
tion exhibits what was originally a barn, with straw-house 
attached ; the barn-part is fitted up so that it may be filled with 
corn at harvest, and it has been thus used during the present 
season — the corn was threshed out at the end of six weeks, and 
it has since been occupied by both store and fatting cattle. It 
will be noticed in the sketch that the rails dividing the boxes 
are made to take apart. 
" My estimate of constructing the boxes is as follows : — 
£. g. d. 
Required G rails of fir poles, 11 feet long and about 3j 
inches diameter, with ends chopped square to fit into the 
supports, say Qd. each 0 3 0 
Two upright fir posts, 8 inches diameter, let into the 
"round 2 feet, and screwed at top to tie-beams of barn, 
at 3s. each 06 0 
12 iron brackets made of J by inch wrought iron, 
at 8d. each 08 0 
2 slabs, 10^ feet long, at side of feeding path, 2s. each .. 0 4 0 
10 yards of cube digging 0 5 0 
Carpenter's wages for erection, &c 0 30 
Total cost of each box £19 0 
" This must be considered a very moderate amount, and it may 
be further diminished upon all soils, excepting gravel or stone, 
by breaking up the bottom of the boxes ; which, after being 
saturated with the liquid-manure, may be removed with the 
dung when the boxes are cleaned out ; this, being repeated a few 
times, will excavate the boxes to the required depth of 2 feet. 
" In most cases it will require care not to disturb the ground- 
pinning brickwork ; I therefore leave about 8 inches width of 
soil next to the brickwork. 
" It will be found that the barn-floor, being 13 feet by 24 feet, 
affords ample room for the cutting of turnips, chaff, &c., and 
also store-room for a considerable quantity of roots and hay, 
and the feeding-path leading from the floor gives access to all 
the boxes alike. 
"The accommodation requisite for cattle whilst feeding under 
cover is so much on the increase, that the question how boxes 
can most readily and economically be furnished is interesting to 
both landlord and tenant ; the former, although desirous of 
encouraging the latter to keep a larger number of cattle, may 
