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4   BARN COiNVENIENCES.
Water Tank Saves Trouble.
1st Premium.—Nothing facilitates farm
work to such an extent, or renders it moro
enjoyable, than to have a convenient place
for each thing and each thing in its pl_."c,
and this is especially true of the barn,
which is the center around which all agricultural activity revolves.
During the winter months all feed needed should be within easy access or within
the barn, so that no needless exposure
shall be encountered in bringing a supply.
If there is a second floor, it should be securely nailed and have sufficient inside
stairways to the ground floor. If hay
and fodder are to be stored in the lofts, a
modern pulley for unloading same from
wagon to loft is indispensable, and as it is
often rainy during haying time there
should be a driveway through one end of
the barn, high enough to accommodate
large loads of hay. A definite plan
should be closely followed when storing
hay,, so that what is needed for feed shall
be convenient to mangers where it is to
be used. To secure easy feeding of
hay tlnough the wiuter, chutes 4 to fi
feet long should be made, before hay is
stored, reaching from the hay loft to large
boxes placed about 3 feet above the mangers. Several planks should be removed
from the outer side and bottom of the box,
so that the horses or cows can pull out
what thoy want to eat from between the
slats. The other side of the box should
bt securely nailed to the wall or partition
with plenty of supports and braces. In
addition* to the ease with which the hay
can be pushed from the mow iuto these
boxes, it is a very economical way of
feeding, as practically no hay is wasted as
is the ease where it ,is fed loose in the
manger and the stock toss it out into the
stall. This is especially true if baled
hay is used, as they can hardly tear it
apart. If sheep are to be fed, a longer
box can be placed in a similar way, within
a few inches of feeding rack. A sheep
rack can easily be made by nailing cleats
about two feet long to two long planks,
and fastening the whole to the partition
or wall, and placing far enough from
wall to allow room for the feed. Hay
should never be placed just above where
sheep stay, because it falls down into their
wool, reducing its value.
As salt should always be fed dry, so
nothing will cat earth to get the taste of
salt where the Tain has leached it, it is
well to put up a stationary trough in
some part of the barn where everything
can get at it occasionally, and a small
box in each stall. There should be separate troughs and boxes in which to feed
corn and other grains. These should
never be fed in the salt troughs.
Every barn should be provided with a
large water tank; and, if the cistern is
convenient to the barn, during cold.
snowy weather it is best to pump water
through a pipe to this receptacle, which
should be placed indoors in a passageway
convenient to all stalls, allowing but one
mttrt of stock to be turned out at a time.
This saves time and worry in getting them
restalled or possible danger of accident.
No water should be left in tank, as it will
freeze.
If the planks in stall or wall get kicked
or broken loose, place large poles directly
inside to receive the blows. This will
save much extra nailing and keep everything it> place.
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Residence of H. Harlan, on 180 acre   farm, three miles northwest of Kokomo.
Alfalfa field on Mr. Harlan's farm,  20
Erst crop.
days    after taking    off ihis  season's
As an aid for breaking young cows, or
milking ungovernable kickers, nothing can
eiiual the following device: Partition off
a small, narrow stall, just wide enough
for a cow to stand crosswise in. In on*
end of this stall make a still smaller pen,
just large enough for a cow to stand in,
by placing two or three stout poles from
one side of the stall to the opposite side.
These poles should be made movable, like
bars, and should fit snugly against the
cow, so as to allow very little chance for
plunging or kicking. Fasten a hitch ring
high enough on the wall to bring the head
well up when the cow is haltered into position, and place another ring in the rear
of pen through which a rope can be pulled
after it lias been noosed around the cow's
hind foot. The rope should be tied fast,
several feet from the ring, so that it can
be readily loosened should she become tangled. This plan has been tried many
times aud has never been found wanting.
1 he stall should have a loft from which a
lasso can be thrown over the cow's horns
with a pitchfork or forked stick, without
entering the stall. This sort of stall can
bo made use of in a similar way when
shoeing horses which the blacksmith cannot handle. Also at sheep shearing time
the shearing bench should be placed in the
small stall, and by crowding a part of tho
fleck into it the work of catching is greatly reduced and sheep are not intimidated.
In order to keep tools where they can
be found when needed, and prevent same
from being lost or left out in the weather,
make a small den in a handy corner of the
barn, making it rat tight by lining it with
wire netting. The door shonld be provided with a lock. Make a tool chest
out of a large box, in which keep hatchets,
nails, files saws! and all the many little
things which are always needed around
tho barn, and never fail to return any
tool when nsed to its appropriate place, so
that !you could find them in the dark if
m-cessary. Iu one corner of the den,
close to the door place, place hooks or pegs
for tlio harness and saddles, and from
time to finie add any other improvements
which you may need.
A very handy tool for lifting a wagon or
carriage, when removing the wheels to oil,
i& made by fastening a 2 foot scantling,
placed at right angles with one about 3
feet long, and placing solid braces to the
shorter upright piece. On top of the upright scantling place a lever about 5 feet
long, sawing down into the end of the
upright so that lever cau be securely bolted when placed down iuto it. Leave
handle of lever Wnger than the part which
is to go directly nnder the axle when
raising the wheel from the ground.
Put up a little box in each stall, in
which to put the curry comb and brush
eaeh day when not in use, and fix hitch
rings in each stall and on the outside of
the barn where it will be handy to curry
or hitch horses.
And lastly don't neglect to put up hooks
on which to hang the lantern, if compelled to be about the barn at night. Many
a fine building has been reduced to ashes
simply because something npsets a lantern. Put up two or three to each stall,
and don't forget to have plenty of these in
the upper stories. A few links of old
pump chain, with one link pried open for
a hook and stapled to a rafter or upper
joist out of the reach of stock will suffice.
Reader.
Second cutting, July 13, 37 daya after first cutting.     About three feet high.
Have Repair Kit Handy.
2d Premium.—In    building a barn ona
should first consider what it is to be used
Continued on page 9.