BARN (AS. berern, born, from /Jere, barley + ern, a close place). A building used for the storage of feed, farm products, implements, and machinery, and for the ,housing of stock, all under one roof. It is now generally recognized that it is more convenient and economical of labor to make ample provision for these purposes in one compact building, than to have a number of separate buildings—stables for horses, eow houses, sheepfolds, piggeries, etc. Similar con siderations of convenience and economy of labor make it desirable to have the barn centrally lo cated, in communication with as many fields as possible, and at a convenient distance from the farmhouse, though not so near as to be offensive or dangerous in case of fire. The situation selected should be well drained, either naturally or by artificial means, so that the stalls, yards, and courts may be kept clean and dry. A hill side facing the south furnishes an especially de sirable location, since with a barn so located it is possible to have good drainage, a clean, dry basement opening on the ground in the rear, a driveway to the upper floors, and a protected court with warm southern exposure. The main portion of the building, which may have two or more stories, is utilized mainly for the storage of feeds, farm products, etc. It should be con structed with a view to convenience and economy of space, the light frame and balloon style of construction being especially adapted to this pur pose. The various farm products, especially those which are to be fed, may with advantage be stored, when first carried into the barn, on the upper floors in order that the subsequent labor of handling in feeding may be lessened. The farm animals of different kinds are provided for on the ground floor, preferably in wings in closing a central court. In all properly con structed barns, adequate provision is made for proper lighting and ventilation. This is often neglected; yet it is a matter of the greatest im portance, especially in the case of horses. If possible, the stalls should be lighted from the rear. Animals cannot be expected to keep in good health if confined in dark, poorly ventilated stalls. An abundant supply of good water is
also an essential. Individual troughs are more hygienic than a common trough. However, a tank or trough in the open court, to which all animals may have access, is a common and very satisfactory arrangement. If spring-water or artesian water under pressure is not available, a supply may be provided by storing rain-water in cisterns or by pumping from wells. Windmills are well adapted to the latter purpose, as well as for grinding feed and similar work, for which motive power of some kind is required in all well equipped barns. Provision should be made for the collection and preservation of both the solid and liquid manure with as little handling as possible. The New England plan of manure cel lars or pits under the barn, into 'which all the manure is clumped and there 'worked over' by swine, is not without its advantages, especially as a means of preserving the manure. (See MA NURES AND MANURING.) The plan and construc tion of a barn will vary with the purposes for which it is to be used—the products to be stored, the stock to be housed, etc. When, from motives of economy, it is desired to build at first a small barn, which is ultimately to be enlarged. it is wise to have a scale drawing made, at the begin ning. of the building as it is to be when com pleted, showing the location of the yard, pig pens, cow-stalls, sheepfolds. etc. In this case also a substantial frame, well covered, should be the first consideration. A large part of the interior fixtures may be dispensed with tempo rarily. There is an almost infinite variety in these interior fixtures—stalls, stanchions, etc.— ranging from the very simple and cheap to the very elaborate and costly. Every barn used for the housing of stock. whether costly or cheap, should be provided with one or more box stalls for the use of animals with young. A silo (q.v.) is a valuable adjunct to a barn; it should form part of the structure, and be so located that it will be easy to till and convenient to feed from.