28 THE RICK-YARD AND BARN. 



of wheat-corn; two of clover-hay; a bean- 

 stack or two; a fagot-stack; and a tolerably 

 large one of straw. Towards the north the 

 cattle yard is fenced by a haulm, or stubble- 

 wall, which has lasted, and is likely to continue 

 several years. 



I must now describe a little more particu- 

 larly the buildings. First, the barns. These, 

 on the usual plan, are oblong structures. The 

 largest is nearly sixty feet in length, and about 

 thirty-five feet wide. This space is divided 

 into three parts : the middle, reaching across 

 the barn, from door to door, is called the floor ; 

 being laid with stout and smooth oak boards, 

 so smooth, as most boys know they usually 

 are, that a good slide may be had upon them ; 

 and a bad one, if a projecting nail catch the 

 foot, and cause an unlucky fall. This part, on 

 which wagons enter to deposit their loads, pass- 



