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produce of the tax. Exempt from duty, the use of tils must, I think, 

 be general, by which means all the straw would be devoted to the 

 purpose of subsistance for cattle, or manure. The expence of a 

 comfortable farm-house, with its neceiTary appendages, is estimated 

 at about 250!. That of a barn, roomy enough for four threshers, 

 and capacious enough to hold twenty or thirty load of corn, 150I. 

 Stables, stalling, pig-styes, &:c. i£cl. more, making the whole 

 r, -ol. This expenditure will be sufficient for a farm of five hun- 

 <ired acres. The practice, lately introduced, of placing the barns 

 on a declivity, cannot be too much commended , a war:- and com- 

 modious stall for oxen, covered by one roof, is thereby gained. 

 The barn floor thus elevated, is rendered more durable, and Jess 

 subject to vermin ; the com is kept more dry and sweet, than on 

 a ground floor ; nor can it slip through the barn floor without dis- 

 covery, and I know ol no possible inconvenience that can accom- 

 pany this plan. Barns, such as these, arc placed with a south-east 

 aspect, and the arches of the stalling front that way. Annexed 

 thereto, is a capacious yard, with proper cribs for hay and stt aw, 

 where the animals feed, and retire at their pleasure to their com- 

 fortable lodging under the barn, 



Nothing is necessary to complete the farm yard, but a pond or 

 reservoir of water, and as the situation is on a descent, such 

 pond is soon filled, by the common current of rain, or it may be- 

 supplied by shoots from the roof of the barn. 



On one farm, situate in the parish of Compton Martin, the pro- 

 proprietor has made a semicircular farm yard, and by building a 

 wall on the onifide, and round pillars on the inside, at the distance 

 of about fourteen feet from each other, and covering the same with 

 strong lugs or poles, has made an excellent staddle for corn. To 

 secure it from vermin, he has placed a row of flat stones at a foot 

 distance from the top, both of the wall and pillars inside, and out- 

 sde. This row of stones projects about eight inches, and shuts so 

 close together, that no vermin can gain access to the corn. On this 

 staddle (as it is here called) he places the whole of his wheat crop, 

 except that portion which he intends to thresh for seed, for the 

 moisture of the air renders the wheat on these hills so damp and 

 cold, that the sale in the winter season is very slack, and should in 

 most instances be avoided. In all my farming excursions, I never 



saw 



