98 Covered Cattle-] /ards. 



Under existing circumstances, the foregoing communication 

 should prove opportune matter in the ' Journal of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society.' The low price of grain and the high 

 price of meat will naturally induce farmers to curtail the pro- 

 duction of the one and increase that of the other ; and the great 

 outcry for seeding-down land to grass shows that the tide has 

 already set that way. An increase in the number of cattle will 

 entail the necessity for enlarged buildings, and how this can be 

 most economically obtained, whether by utilising the old or 

 adding new, is a problem which ere long landowners will have 

 practically to solve. 



As a cheap and efficient mode of increasing the comfort, as 

 well as the extent of the accommodation, the system of roofing 

 over existing open yards may be safely recommended. In no 

 other way will so large an amount of accommodation be obtained 

 at so small a cost. 



Given the familiar open yard enclosed on three or four sides 

 by barn, stables, and other offices, having a capacity for accom- 

 modating stock dependent less upon its size than on the extent 

 of the adjoining shelter-sheds — any landowner, by applying the 

 principles which we advocate, may, with the thinnings of his 

 plantations and the labour of his carpenter, double the amount 

 of cattle-accommodation, and convert this uninviting, litter- 

 wasting, labour-wasting, food-wasting, manure-wasting, cattle- 

 starving space into a comfortable, well-ventilated covered yard. 



Two yards of the above description on the home-farm of the 

 Earl of Zetland, at Upleatham, have just been so utilised by 

 being roofed over on Mr. Thompson's principle, from designs of 

 the writer, and a third is now in hand ; and we have his Lordship's 

 permission to say that he is much pleased with the change, and 

 highly approves of the piinciple cm which it has been effected. 



To assist my readers in forming an approximate estimate of 

 the cost of such improvements, I will add a statement of the 

 quantities of work executed in covering the smaller of Lord 

 Zetland's two yards, and of the prices at which, by contract, I- 

 can in this district get such work done. 



The yard being enclosed by existing buildings on four sides, no 

 outlay on outside walls was required. Its length is 55 feet, 

 width 53 feet. The roofs are carried on 10 oak posts set in stone 

 blocks ; the ends of the tiebeams of the side roofs being let 

 into the walls. The covering is of pantiles, unpointed, excepting 

 the two lowermost courses of the main roof. 



This calculation is based on the assumption of foreign timber 

 being used in the construction of the roof, and a reduction to the 

 extent of nearly 10 per cent, on the above sum may be effected 

 by landowners using their own home-grown timber. 



