36 ON CATTLE-SHEDS AND FOLDS. 



tice are proporly weig'lied ng'ainst the cost of providing* the 

 necessary convenience. One of the materials aUuded to is 

 paper, which is extremely lig'ht, and therefore requiring- no 

 more timber for its support than sufficient to resist the force 

 of "vvind to which the roof may he exposed. When properly 

 prepared, paper may he rendered extremely durable for 

 covering- roofs, quite impervious to rain, and perfectly fire- 

 proof; which, with the trifling- expense of the article, is a 

 material combining- every requisite that can be desired for 

 the purpose. Before describing- the process of preparing- 

 the paper, it will perhaps be well to point out the proper 

 situation, the form, and construction of cattle sheds in which 

 paper covering- may be applied. 



The proposed sheds should be in a well- sheltered farm- 

 yard ; and for every two of a larg-e, or three of a smaller 

 kind of beast, a space of twenty-four feet by twelve feet 

 should be allowed, and enclosed with strong- hurdles of 44- 

 to 5 feet in heig'ht ; one-half of this space, viz., twelve feet 

 square, should be a covered shed, G feet hig-h in front, and 

 9 or 10 feet high at the back. The construction of such 

 sheds may be at once simple and economical ; and the fol- 

 lowing- specification will be sufficient for the desired pur- 

 pose : — 



Suppose a range of sheds to be commenced at the ang-le or 

 corner of a fold-yard, and rang-ed along- one side of it; let 

 the wall or fence of this side be carried up to 9 feet, if not 

 already that heig-ht, with rubble walling- sufficient to keep 

 out the wind : this will serve for the back, and the wall at a 

 rig-ht ang-le forming- the corner will answer for a side of the 

 intended rang-e of sheds. Let roug-h posts, 5 inches diame- 

 ter at the smaller ends, ranged in a straight line parallel to, 

 and 12 feet distance from the back wall, and at 12 feet dis- 

 tance from each other, be sunk 1^ or 2 feet into the ground, 

 and rising- 6 feet above the surface : the part under g-round, 

 and for 6 inches above, shoidd be well charred to prevent 

 the posts rotting-, which they are very liable to do, at the 

 part immediately above and below the surface — of all kinds 

 of wood, larch is best suited for the posts. Let beams or 

 joists extend from post to post, resting- on and firmly spiked 

 to them ; these joists set on edge need not be more than 4§ 

 inches by 2|- inches, or two-thirds the breadth and the 

 thickness of a Norway batten, Avhich kind of deal will 

 answer the purpose admirably, and save expense in labour 

 and stuff. Let three principal rafters of 4A inches by 2h 



