426 



SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part II. 



as the ordinary farm of this kingdom, the principal requisites are, shelter, water, an 

 area or site sufficiently flat for yards and buildings ; with meadow land below it, to re- 

 ceive the washings of the yards ; as well as sound pasture-grounds above it for a grass- 

 yard and paddocks ; with private roads nearly on a level, to the principal arable lands ; 

 and with suitable outlets to the nearest or best markets." The first of which when 

 wanting, in the desired situation, may in time be supplied by plantations and mound- 

 fences. And where there is not a natural supply of water, a well, water-cellar, or arti- 

 ficial rill may, he says, furnish it. 



2759. For a farm under mixed husbandry, the particulars, to be arranged according 

 to Marshall, may be thus enumerated ; namely, 1 . A suit of buildings, adapted to the 

 intended plan of management, as a dwelling-house, barns, stables, cattle-sheds, cart- 

 shed. 2. A spacious yard, common to the buildings, and containing a receptacle of 

 stall-manure, whether arising from stables, cattle-sheds, hog-styes, or other buildings ; 

 together with separate folds, or straw-yards, furnished with appropriate sheds, for par- 

 ticular stock, in places where such are required. 3. A reservoir, or catchpool, situated 

 on the lower side of the buildings and yards, to receive their washings, and collect them 

 in a body for the purpose of irrigating the lands below them. 4. A corn-yard, conve- 

 nient to the barns ; and a hay-yard contiguous to the cow or fatting-sheds. 5. A gar- 

 den and fruit-ground near the house. 6, A spacious grass-yard or green, embracing 

 the whole or principal part of the conveniences ; as an occasional receptacle for stock of 

 every kind ; as a common pasture for swine, and a range for poultry ; as a security to 

 the fields from stock straying out of the inner yards ; and as an ante-field or lobby, 

 out of which the home-grounds and driftways may be conveniently entered. In re- 

 spect to the distribution or management of these different objects, he remarks, that in 

 order to make it with good effect, great caution, study, and patience are required, that 

 the most may be made of given circumstances. " An accurate delineation of the site 

 which is fixed on, requires," says he, " to be drawn out on a scale; the plannist study- 

 ing the subject, alternately, upon the paper, and on the ground to be laid out ; continuing 

 to sketch and correct his plan, until he has not a doubt left upon his mind ; and then to 

 mark out the whole upon the ground, in a conspicuous and permanent manner, before 

 the foundation of any particular building be attempted to be laid. It may," he thinks, 

 *' be naturally conceived by a person who has not turned his attention to this subject, 

 that there must be some simple, obvious, and fixed plan to proceed upon. But seeing 

 the endless variety in the mere dwelling-places of men, it is not to be wondered at, if a 

 still greater variety of plans should take place where so many appurtenances are required, 

 and these on sites so infinitely various ; nor that men's opinions and practices should 

 differ so much on the subject, that on a given site, no two practical men, it is more than 

 probable, would make the same arrangement." Tliere are, however, he says, " certain 

 principles which no artist ought to lose sight of in laying out" such buildings and con- 

 veniences. '* The barns, the stables, and the granary, should be under the eye, 

 should be readily seen from the dwelling-house." And "the prevailing idea, at pre- 

 sent, is, that the several buildings ought to form a regular figure, and enclose an area 

 or farm-yard, either as a fold for loose cattle, or, where the stalling of cattle is practised, 

 as a receptacle for dung, and the most prevailing figure is the square. But this form is, 

 he thinks, more defective than the oval or circle, the angles being too sharp, and the 

 corners too deep. Besides, the roadway, necessary to be carried round a farm-yard in 

 order to have a free and easy passage between the different buildings, is inconveniently 

 lengthened or made at greater expense. The view of the whole yard and buildings 

 from the house on one side of it, is likewise more confined." He had formerly sug-- 

 gested the plan of a polygon, or many- 

 sided figure, or an irregular serai-octagon, 

 with the dwelling-house and stables on the 

 largest side, having ranges of cattle-stalls 

 opposite. But has since formed one on 

 the complete octagon {jig- 373.), the 

 dwelling-house (o) being on one side, and 

 the entrance gateway and granary oppo- 

 site, the remaining six sides being occu- 

 pied by stables and cattle-sheds (c, d), and 

 other out-buildings (e), a barn and thresh- 

 ing machine (/), with a broad-way [g), 

 dipping gently from the buildings, and 

 surrounding a wide shallow dung-bason (Ji), 

 which occupy the rest of the area of the yard. 

 Externally is a bason (i), for the drainings of the yard ; and grass enclosures for calves, 

 poultry, and fruit-trees, and rick-yard. This is given as a hint to those engaged in lay- 



