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Show MODERN STABLES HELP KEEP MILK It Is of Utmost Importance to Have Them Clean and Free From Disagreeable Odors. AVOID FILTHY PLANK FLOORS Dairyman Must Be Constantly at War With Filth Cows, Utensils and Barn Must Be Kept Unpol- 1 luted at All Times. (By W. G. KAISER, Agricultural Engineer.) En-gineer.) From the very fact that milk is used as a human food It Is essential to exercise ex-ercise the greatest care to keep It clean and wholesome. Milk Is a prod' net that absorbs disagreeable odors very quickly and if left stand In a stable where bad odors are presnt it will In a surprisingly short time be contaminated. "The old filthy plank floored, poorly poor-ly lighted, ill-ventllated barn Is the harbinger of disease, especially tuberculosis," tuber-culosis," tiys W. B. Barney, state dairy and, food commissioner of Iowa, In a report to the governor of that r Z fo Stit eopeciiy JesirrJ yhH it m 1 1 Ejl r Feeding r)iey I Floor plan prepared by the American Society cf Agricultural Engineers after a study of several thourand plans. Whether the cows face in or out in largely a matter of personal per-sonal preference. Here they face in. state. If all ordinances on floor construction con-struction were summed up in a single sentence they would read about as follows: "No building shall be used for stabling cows which Is not provided pro-vided with an easily cleaned, impervious impervi-ous floor." The dairyman must be constantly con-stantly at war with filth. The cows must be kept clean, the utensils In which milk is kept must be kept clean and the barn must be clean. An easily cleaned impervious floor in the dairy barn is very necessary. Concrete is used In many sections of this country for dairy barn flcors. Plank floors with cracks full of filth are being taken up and a permanent concrete floor put In their place. This work can be done at any season of the year when there is time to do the work. The floor can be laid In winter If the Interior Inte-rior of the barn can be kept above freezing for four or five days until concrete has hardened. Avoid Costly Mistakes. A good plan is necessary so as to avoid costly mistakes. Once concrete has hardened it Is difficult to remove. Most agricultural colleges have suggested sug-gested dairy barn layouts which they furnish free to farmers. Many barn equipment manufacturers also furnish this information without charge. The first step in the construction of a dairy barn floor Is to clear out rubbish and bring the area to proper level. All holes should be filled and If there are any soft spots these should be tamped solid. The manger curb Is usually built first and It Is very important to do this Job right so that steel stanchions will fit. The curb should be 5 or 6 Inches thick and project about 6 Inches above |