THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



489 



Scotch system of a yard and shed adjoining, accommo- I 

 dating two to six full-grown animals, is preferable, as j 

 respects the health of the stock, to either stalls or I 

 boxes ; that they are on an equality with them as j 

 respects economy of food in fine weather, and, is 

 free from draughts, in moist weather; that they are 

 preferable to stalls, and very little if at all in- 

 ferior to boxes, if properly managed, as a means of 

 making and preserving manure. 6. That although stalls 

 may be erected at the cheapest rate per head, the differ- 

 ence is not greatly in their favour. 7. That boxes are 

 more expensive in the first construction than sheds with 

 open yard. 8. That sheds on the Gloucestershire plan, 

 to accommodate one animal in each compartment, 

 should be ten feet wide by nine feet, with a yard of 

 double the size. 9. That sheds on the Scotch system, 

 to hold six animals, should be ten feet wide and thirty- 

 six feet long, with a yard thirty-six feet by thirty-six 

 feet. 10. That ia this neighbourhood the sheds should 

 be placed facing the south or south-east, avoiding a 

 south-westerly aspect, in consequence of the prevailing 

 winds and heavy rains coming from that quarter, and 

 that great care should be taken to prevent draughts. 



11. That no farm is properly furnished for the occupa- 

 tion of a tenant without sufficient winter accommoda- 

 tion for the stock the farm will carry being provided. 



12. And that, as the cutting of the straw &c. into 

 chaff is of very important assistance in econo- 

 mizing the food of the farm, it is highly de- 

 sirable that advantage should be taken of the streams 

 of water which abound in the neighbouring valleys 

 as a simple, even, ready, and most steady motive- 

 power. I shall conclude with the following opinion 

 of Sir John Sinclair in his " British Husbandry," in 1814. 

 After examining the system of feeding in open yards, feed- 

 ing-honse, and hammels, he says: " On the whole, the 



third plan, that of hammals, though the most expensive, is 

 certainly to be preferred. The advantages of it are 

 described by Mr. Robertson in the following tornas: 'I 

 have found these hammels or cattle sheds much better than 

 any large or open court aud yard. Cattle kept ia great 

 numbers waste more straw ; they fight, and hurt one another 

 with their horns. All this is prevented when they are kept 

 in separate divisions ; and, above all, in these hammels we 

 can give them what meat we choose, and in what proportion 

 wo think proper, and can separate those of different ages 

 which ought not to be associated together.' Ho goes on 

 to observe that they are equally suited for horses, and are 

 much more healthy for them, in which I quite agree." 



The discussion turned principally upon the comparative 

 advantages to be obtained from the clearing out of the yards 

 evei-y day, or letting the dung remain for a time. This 

 arose in a great measure from the meeting being composed of 

 hill and vale farmers ; the former contending for letting 

 the dung remain in the yards, that they might convert 

 their wheat-straw into manure, the latter contending for 

 clearing out the yards every day to save straw. After 

 much interesting exchange of opinions, the following resolu- 

 tion was agreed to: 



Resolved— That for tlie benefit of the laud, the health of the 

 animals, the economising of food, and preservation of manure, 

 it is desirable that the stock of a farm should be housed during 

 winter. That the old Gloucestershire system, as mentioned 

 by Marahali ia 17S9, of small yards aud sheds, eich holding 

 one full-grown animal or two small ones, with the feeding- 

 trough (covered) placed in the yard nistead of the shed, or the 

 Scotch hammel system of a jiird and shed adjoiain^r, accom- 

 modating from two to six full-grown oxen, is preferable as 

 respects the health of the stock to either stalls or boxes ; that 

 they are on an cqunhty with them as regards the economy of 

 food in fine weather, and, if free from draughts, in moist weather; 

 that they are preferable to stalls, and very little if at all in- 

 feri:,r to boxsp, if properly managed, as a means of making 

 aud pre.-erviug maviure. That no farm ia properly furnished 

 for the occupation of a tenant without sufficient winter accom- 

 modation for the stock the farm will carry being provided." 



TREES FOR THE METROPOLIS. 



We keep account of the buildings that are run up in 

 the metropolis. Our statistics on most points con- 

 nected with its population, trade, shipping, and ve- 

 hicles are pretty accurate; but who can tell us how 

 many trees have been planted in London and its en- 

 virons last year — or for any number of years past? 

 And yet the planting of trees is a matter of no slight 

 importance in and about a great city, both for orna- 

 mental and economic purposes. How little is done to 

 relieve the dark grim ugliness of London in this re- 

 spect ! Long monotonous lines of streets and squares, 

 great hotels and termini, public buildings of various 

 kinds, docks, and railway stations, spring up in rapid 

 succession ; but no one cares to plant a tree to afford 

 its shade-relief and pleasant foliage for the eye forced 

 to wander over continuous masses of white stucco. 



The annual report to the Metropolitan Board of 

 Works just issued by Mr. Jlarrable, their superintend- 

 ing architect, tells us that the number of new buildings 



within the metropolis during the last three 

 years cannot be less than 20,000, exclusive of additions. 

 Now, if but the same number of useful and ornamental 

 trees had been planted in that period, what a benefit 

 would have been conferred on present and future gene- 

 rations ! 



A year or two ago our contemporary, the Building 

 News, suggested and supported, in a series of articles, 

 the advantage of a more general introduction of shade- 

 trees for the metropolis. These suggestions met with 

 very general approbation in all quarters, but as yet 

 have been very little acted upon by private individuals 

 or public bodies. It cannot be because trees are un- 

 sightly. The Boulevards of Paris, and the like-planted 

 avenue -streets of the continent, are undeniably pic- 

 turesque and attractive ; nor are the avenue high roads 

 without charms. Indeed, the avenue is a recognized 

 artistic resource by which many of our country man- 

 sions and parks profit. Who has not wandered with 



