444 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



crops, although they may not be heavy, are difficult to re- 

 move—carting, generally, is more heavy ; while broken days, 

 from bad weather, are more numerous. 



We now come to the general conclusion from the foregoing 

 premises, and we need hardly say how much it is in favour of 

 the steam plough. In ordinary seasons, when there is plenty 

 of fine weather to do the work of tillage at this season, 

 COMMON SENSE may be allowed to view the subject from her 

 purse strings, as to whether horses or steam can do the work 

 for the least money per acre in the outset ; but, even at the 

 best, calculations of this kind only exemplify a very short- 

 sighted penny-wiae-and-pound-foolish economy, while in sea- 

 sons like the present their absurdity is bo gross as to render 

 them wholly untenable. Not to give steam culture credit for 



all the advantages gained, is unworthy the liberal spirit of the 

 age; and intelligent farmers who keep the wire rope traversing 

 their clayey lands this year, instead of the trampling consoli- 

 dating feet of horses, may find at the conclusion of next har- 

 vest their balance-sheets amply sufficient to cover the whole 

 outlay of starting a new engine, tackle, and implement. If 

 estimated fairly, the advantages of steam culture must be re- 

 presented by an increasing quantity— clay soils gradually 

 increasing in depth, in vegetable matter, and general fertility, 

 from a miminum to a maximum degree. Woolston, for 

 example, has improved thus ; and we understand the annual 

 increase of produce is now more than sufficient to repay 

 engine tackle, and implement, so that Mr. Smith would be a 

 gainer had he to renew them yearly. X. Y. Z. 



THE LABOURER'S COTTAGE. 



Sir, — As a subscriber I venture to call your attention to 

 the accompanying general suggestions with reference to 

 cottage building, which is a subject now re- ceiving con- 

 siderable and deserved attention. Perhaps you may think 

 fit to give the suggestions a place in your next. 

 Your obedient servant, 

 Oct. 18, 1860. Y. 



[My card is enclosed ] 



1. — No one plan can be a model for all families. Some 

 families would have no occupant for a third bedroom, and 

 some can on'y afford to pay half the rent that others can. 



2. — Many people building will not, under any circum- 

 stances, be induced to lay out more, say than £ 1 50 on a 

 pair of cottages. Plans should therefore be published for a 

 low class of buildings, as well as for a higher, that those 

 who will build none but the former may provide the most 

 convenient and best arranged cottage that can be got for 

 the money. 



3. — All plans and elevations should be on one uniform 

 scale of |th of an inch to the foot. 



4. — An elevation of each of the four sides should be fur- 

 nished. 



5. — A complete specification, separate bill of quantities, 

 and estimate in detail of each kind of work should be fur- 

 nished, similar to that given by Mr, Blackmoor, with his 

 Yorkshire 1859 prize plans, published by the Yorkshire 

 Agricultural Society. 



6.— In competing plans, the estimates should be as for 

 best common stock, or kiln-burnt bricks, at 24s. per 1 ,000 

 delivered. Owing to bricks varying materially in size in 

 different localities, I should assume the Yorkshire size, as 

 stated in their conditions, for this yep,r's competition, viz , 

 9j^by4iby3^ 



7. — Where Ashlar stone is proposed for dressings, it 

 should be estimated at Is. per cubic foot, delivered in the 

 usual rough state from the quarry. 



8.— Foundations of cottages should be assumed as 1ft. 

 61n. below the floor level, and of boundary walls and conve- 

 niences as Ifc. below the surface, except ash place, which 

 must be taken at 3ft. below the surface. 



9.— An air-drain or flue should be provided under the centre 

 of each house, from front to back and immediately under the 

 floor level, of an area equal to cot less than 16 square inches. 

 This may be either done in dry brick -work or drain-tiles, 

 and 153. might be taken as the coat thereof, including small 

 air-grates. 



10. — The roof to be estimated as blue slate, at 23. Id. per 

 yard. 



11. — One of the ground-floor rooms must have an area of 

 not less than 120 square feet, and the smallest bedroom an 

 area of not less than 43 square feet ; a pantry or cellar 

 must have an area of not less than 12 square feet. 



12. — Excepting the pantry, the height of any ground- 

 floor room, kitchen, or scullery, must not be less than 8ft., 

 and of any bedroom not less than 8ft. to ceiling, if entirely 

 flat. Where however any roof slope is contained in a bed- 

 room, the height to ceiling in centre room must not be less 

 than 9ft., and must be at least 6ft. 6in. to wall plate. 



13. — Each cottage to have a separate privy and ash place, 

 within a yard, the area of which shall not be less than 200. 

 square feet, enclosed by a 9in. brick wall, not less than 3ft, 

 high. 



14. — The position and extra cost of a pig-stye to be 

 shewn by dotted lines, in case any person building should 

 consider such an addition desirable. 



15. — Where there are three bedrooms, not less than two 

 must have fire-places. 



16. — Where there are only two bedrooms, at least one must 

 have fire place. 



17. — Each bedroom must have a Sherringham's or otLer 

 convenient ventilator, to be estimated, including fixing, at 

 63. 8d. each. 



18. — Brick ovens and wood for fuel not being generally 

 used in Yorkshire and many other counties, neither brick 

 oven nor covered place for wood need be provided or esti- 

 mated for, except supplementally and separately. Their 

 position had, however, better be shown by dotted lines, to 

 meet the case of localities where they would be desirable. 

 They spoil the look of a plan very much if shewn in the 

 ordinary way instead of being merely dotted. 



19. — In many localities, and especially where colliers are 

 concerned, it is of very great importance to collect all soft 

 water obtainable. The position of a fall pipe, water butt, 

 or iron tank, or other underground tank, should be shown 

 by dotted lines, and supplementally and separately specified 

 and estimated for. 



20. — Foundations should be estimated as in brick, and the 

 various rules laid down adhered to in any estimate or plan, 

 for the sake of promoting fair competition on equal terms. 

 It is well known that the cost of building the same cottage 

 varies to the extent of 15 per cent., in different localities, 

 even in Yorkshire, and to a greater extent still between 

 cheap districts in Yorkshire and dear districts in some of 



