120 
Farm Buildings* 
of thatch. The bodies of the building may- 
oven be laid up of logs and covered with slabs, 
so that they be well chinked and comfortable, 
it is true that there is some waste room over 
the cattle in the stables, but no more than is 
wanted for ventilation and to pass off the re¬ 
spired air, which is deleterious to their health. 
The letting in of fresh air in cold and stormy 
weather, through the sides of the building, 
gives them colds and disease, to which they are 
as liable as the human family. But even if 
only sheds are wanted, I am satisfied that they 
are better to be attached to the sides of the barn 
in the way these stables are, than in any other, 
being more convenient, and allowing the stock 
to be fed in them with greater economy. The 
stables attached to this being for the accommo¬ 
dation of working cattle mostly, are wider than 
need be for an ordinary stock, and may be 
made narrower. But among all other plans, 
I have found none which combine the requisites 
of cheapness, economy of feeding, and storage 
like this. It has withal an appearance of snug¬ 
ness and comfort about it that greatly embel¬ 
lishes the farm. 
If, however, it be preferred, the posts of the 
stables may be raised to nine, ten, or twelve feet 
in height: it will give room for considerable 
cheap storage of straw for bedding, or coarse 
fodder for the stock. In ordinary cases, the two 
end doors of the stable in the side view can be 
omitted, as one, the centre door, is sufficient. 
Open sheds, if wanted in addition, can be ex¬ 
tended from either side of the leantos or stables 
to any length required for shelter to the out-door 
stock. One of these barns has three long sheds 
attached for this purpose. There is another ad¬ 
vantage in attaching cheap stables to the sides 
or ends of the main barn which is seldom thought 
of. The stale and droppings from the different 
animals, by saturating the lower timbers of the 
frame, cause early decay, and in a few years, if 
within the body of the structure, it requires new 
sills, sleepers, &c.; but in this plan, they may 
be replaced and the barn itself remain in sound 
condition. The stables also being made of lighter 
timber, will cost less than in the other way, and 
in the long run prove much less expensive. 
These barns have now been built, and in con¬ 
stant use for nearly seven years, and are pro¬ 
nounced by those having the immediate care of 
the stock and farm products, and who have used 
them for the storage of grain, &c. (and a great 
quantity has been stored in them,) superior to 
any plan they have ever known. One active 
man, with a boy to assist in cleaning out the 
stables, will tend a hundred head of cattle in the 
stables of this barn above figured; or two men 
will easily take care of this 100 head, and an¬ 
other 100 in the yards and sheds. About ninety 
neat cattle have been wintered at one of them 
the past season; half of their number, choice 
blood stock, and nothing but hay and straw fed 
them. Thorough-bred Short Horns, several of 
which went into winter quarters in low condi¬ 
tion, have gained in flesh, and are now going 
into the spring pastures in as high condition as 
is desirable. In relation to the barn yard, every 
precaution should be taken to prevent wasting 
the deposites within it, and as I hold it to be the 
best plan in most cases to remove the manure as 
early in the spring as practicable for application 
to the farm crops, little waste need accrue by 
evaporation or drainage. I have said little of 
sheep or horses in connection with the barn and 
its appendages;, but if these animals, as they 
usually do, form a part of the farm stock, the 
horses need only have appropriated to them the 
same space or privileges as is given to the neat 
cattle; and the sheep may be either fed in sepa¬ 
rately enclosed yards and sheds, or in such ex¬ 
clusive appropriations as they require. The 
general plan may still remain the same. These 
barns together with some others since erected, 
are still under my charge, and one of them be¬ 
ing built of logs 40 by 36 feet, several years 
since, by the then occupant of the farm, essen¬ 
tially after the same model, with stables, &c, 
and in a very cheap way, still answers an ad¬ 
mirable purpose. Another was built princi¬ 
pally for the storage of grain crops in the straw, 
without stables, 60 by 45 feet; but all the occu¬ 
pants concur in opinion that the original plan, 
for all purposes, is preferable. The saving of 
labor in the barn duties, a great item , is admit¬ 
ted to be very important. 
In regard to the watering of farm stock, 
somewhat different opinions prevail among good 
farmers and herdsmen. Some insist that water 
should constantly flow into a trough in the yard, 
where practicable, by pipes from a neighboring 
spring or stream; while others prefer to drive 
their animals some little distance for their water, 
thus giving them that exercise so conducive to 
full health which they would not take when the 
water is within the yard. From my own ex¬ 
perience, each method has its advantages. For 
milch cows, and for them only, would I care for 
a fountain in the yard. Often drinking may 
assist in an increased degree, the secretion of 
milk, although I fancy that green roots during 
the winter given daily, in addition to their hay 
or straw, will be much more efficient agents in 
this matter; but for the necessary purposes oi 
deglutination, or of moistening the food, the use 
of water once or twice a day during the fodder¬ 
ing season, is abundantly sufficient. Working 
animals require drink at least twice, or three 
times a day. During the past winter, and up 
to this time, our own stock have had water but 
