MY FARM OF EDGEWOOD 



its ridge high, and the roof sloping away in 

 swift pitch on either side to hnes of posts, 

 rising eight feet only from the ground. The 

 gables are covered in with rough material, in 

 such shape as to leave three simple open arches 

 at either end; the middle opening,— high and 

 broad, so that loaded teams may pass beneath ; 

 the two flanking arches, — lower, and opening 

 upon two ranges of stalls which sweep down 

 on either side the building. These stalls 

 are so disposed that the cattle are fed directly 

 from carts passing around the exterior. Be- 

 hind either range of cattle is a walk five feet 

 broad; and between these walks, — an open 

 space sixteen feet wide, traversing the whole 

 length of the building, and serving at once as 

 manure pit, and gangway for the teams which 

 deposit from time to time their contributions 

 of muck and turf. Midway of this central 

 area is a covered cistern, from which, as occa- 

 sion demands, the drainage of the stalls may 

 be pumped up to drench the accumulating stock 

 of fertilizing material. 



This simple building, which serves as the 

 summer quarters of the dairy, is picturesque 

 in its outline ; for I know no reason why econ- 

 omy should abjure grace, or why farm con- 

 struction should be uncouth or tawdry. 



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