110 Agriculture of Durham. 



inches in width : the height was 9 feet G inches. The floors of 

 the stalls have a descent of 2 inches in their length, and a 

 channel rUns the whole length of the stable, along which the 

 water passes and is conveyed by a pipe to the liquid manure 

 tank. The stalls are separated by a close partition, G feet high 

 at the head, and 4 feet 6 inches at the lower end. For ventila- 

 tion, cast-iron grated bricks are built in the wall at the level of 

 the ground in each stall, and at the head of the stalls the light 

 was admitted by round windows, moving on a pivot in the 

 centre, and therefore easily opened at any moment to increase 

 the ventilation. They were so placed that one served for two 

 stalls. The mangers, racks, and other fittings, were all of cast 

 iron. There was no loft above, but a coved ceiling, in which 

 were several passages communicating with cupolas of wood, with 

 sides of lattice-work, placed in the roof, by which the heated air 

 passed off. Another mode of ventilation, which has been adopted 

 with great success, is the introduction of 4-inch pipe tiles close 

 to the ceiling above each stall. This is a cheap and simple 

 method, and is said to answer perfectly the purpose, of causing a 

 current of air without any draught which might be injurious to 

 the horses. 



3. The preserving of the Stored Crops. — To effect this there 

 have been new and improved barns and granaries for the grain 

 crops, and in some places sheds have been introduced to shelter 

 the hay. Turnips and potatoes are generally preserved in pits. 



4. The keeping of all Manure imthout toaste. — Under this head 

 I may notice the tanks which have been constructed for the pre- 

 servation of the liquid manure which used (and yet is in many 

 places) to be all lost until a very recent period. These tanks are 

 becoming general, and are differently formed according to the 

 means or fancy of the landlord. The liquid is generally laid, 

 upon the grass land, and has been found very beneficial to the 

 fog when put on just after mowing. A plan has been introduced 

 in some places of laying up the manure under cover ; and gene- 

 rally throughout the country I see a greater disposition to pre- 

 serve the farmyard manure from the injurious effects of wind and 

 weather until it be laid into the land. I may remark here, in 

 regard to the use of manures, that a greater degree of care is 

 observed, not only in the preservation of the dung in a good 

 state, but also in regulating the nature and quantity of the 

 manure to the quality or character of the soils. For this purpose 

 bones in all their different forms of preparation, guano, and the 

 various kinds of artificial manures, are very freely used : the 

 latter generally with the turnip crop, though they are sometimes 

 sown over the land and harrowed in with other crops. For the 

 growth of potatoes dung is still preferred ; it is, however, well 



