38 ON CATTLE-SHEDS AND FOLDS. 



finish all, the whole must be covered with a lime-wash, de- 

 scribed above, to which a slate, tile, or stone colour may be 

 communicated by the addition of a little lamp-black, Vene- 

 tian red, or umber. This will form an extremely durable 

 covering', quite impervious to rain, and perfectly safe from 

 fire ; and, at a very trifling- increase of expense, the whole 

 of the timber used in the construction of the shed may be 

 rendered fire-proof by being- immersed, for twenty-four 

 hours, in a saturated solution of alum or soda. 



At the present prices of materials and labour, the cost of 

 shed and fold, for 32 square yards, complete, according- to 

 the specification above (carriag-e of materials not included), 

 will be as follows, viz., — 



£ s. d. £ s. d. 

 Timber for the shed, sawed to the proper dimensions 17 6 

 Labour in putting up, and nails . . .076 



Hurdles — of larch, for fences 



Paper for covering at 28s. per cwt. 



Preparing and laying on .... 



Sundries for levelling ground, &c. 



Total 



or at the rate of 2.^. per square yard for shed and fold — an 

 expense Avhich would be repaid in a sing'le year by the bene- 

 fit that would be derived from the convenience. The erec- 

 tions would last g-ood for many j^ears, and mig-ht be erected 

 by such farmers even as had not a long- and certain tenure 

 of their farms; as an arrangement might easily be made 

 with any reasonable landlord for being- permitted, on any 

 sudden termination of tenantcy, at a short period after in- 

 curring- the expense, to receive a portion back, either from 

 the proprietor of the land himself or the next occupier. 



The application of paper for roofing- need not be confined 

 to open sheds, but may be used vvith equal advantag-e to 

 every description of ag-ricultural building-s, and even to 

 dwelling'-houses. 



When protection can be obtained at so trifling- a cost as 

 that stated in the foreg-oing- account, or even at a consider- 

 able advance upon it, it is unpardonable in any person not 

 providing- tbe means of comfort so conducive to the thriving- 

 of their cattle, and consequently to their own pecuniary 

 g-ain. 



The Plough, November 1846. 



