Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1901 — STOCK AND STABLE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STOCK AND STABLE.

STUDY OF VENTILATION OF INTEREST TO STOCKMEN. Neceaalty of Cleanliness, Fresh Air and Sunlight to Proenre the Best Results—System to Be Used at PanAmerican Exposition. The Pan-American Exposition will prove to be of more genuine benefit to those interested in the proper care of live stock than any previous effort in this direction, Stable construction is a question that appeals with great force to every farmer who is anxious to secure gocd results. The question of expense is a great barrier to the proper building of this necessity. Unfortunately some of the early examples of good stables were, built by men of ■ large means, regardless of what the cost might be. As a result practical farmers were slew to take the matter up, as the idea of a properly constructed stable became at once associated with great expense. One object of Mr. F. A. Converse, who has charge of the live stock and , dairy products at the Exposition, in building a model stable at the Exposi-1 tion is to counteract this erroneous im-! pression. A properly constructed stable is not necessarily an expensive one. Cleanliness, fresh air and sunlight, with a modulated temperature, may be obtained in a building of ordinary cheap construction if properly arranged. „ A light, cheap framework covered with paper which is protected with a sheathing of very common boarding and covered with a good roof makes a very good start. This should stand on ground that is well drained and exposed to the sunlight, but protected from cold winds. The floor should be of cement and carefully designed to facilitate cleanliness in every particular. Double doors, fly screens and dark blinds should be provided and made to fit properly. A system of ventilation should be provided that will ventilate. Anything will not do. By excluding the cold and the light ordinarily we also shut out t the fresh air, without which no an- j Imal can thrive. Many stockmen are j careful about the quality of the food, though careless about everything else j in connection with the stable. In this 1 manner they are protecting their stock j In oi.e direction while leaving them exposed in many others. 'table air is devitalized by passing ' tn rh the lungs, it is also being con-:

tami: (1 by chemical decomposition of the < "Tementum as well as the fumes aris.ng from the fermentation of damp bedding. etc. To thoroughly understand how to properly ventilate a stable it is necessary to study the circulation of air at changing temperatures, which is governed by fixed laws and may be easily Understood. Warm air is lighter than cold air. Generally speaking, foul air Is heavier than fresh pure air from the outside, even at the same temperature. Starting from this well known principle. ventilation should be arranged accordingly. Fresh air should be let In at the top and the foul air taken out at the bottom. By experimenting we find if w<* smoke a cigar in the middle of a room the smoke goes first to the ceiling, where It spreads in every direction until it reaches the side walls, when it will descend. This would indicate that we should admit fresh air at or near the center of the ceiling and draw the foul air from the different sides of the room near the base. There are two systems in. use In our best stables. One forces

the fresh air in, the other, the King system, draws the foul air out As Mr. Converse prefers the latter, that is the system he will demonstrate at the Exposition. . It consists of an air stack with a hood, the opening of which is turned away from the direction from which the wind is blowing. To this main air pipe are attached feeders from different parts of the stable. These feeders have slide openings to admit and carry off the foul air from near the floor at the -sjdes of the stable. Fresh air is admitted through a central opening in the roof. As the dmff that is created by the hooded stack is sufficient to draw the bottom air from the stable, fresh air must go down through the central opening to take its place, and a change of air is a certainty. To prevent the intake from striking the animals too strong a shield is plawd under the opening which assists in directing ffie flow of fresh air along the ceiling. this- manner it mixes with the warm air that naturally rises in the center of the'stable, and all is intermingled and diffused. With a good stable well ventilated and' good feed intelligently fed the winter care of stock should be profitable as well as pleasant. Epidemics have no bad effects on such stock, and a visit from the board of health has no unpleasant consequences for the owner. Herbert Shearer.

TOWER ON THE PLAZA—PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION.