POSITION OF THE FARM-HOUSE AND OFFICES. 13 



How different from that state of feudal barbarism, (which 

 may still be found in some districts in England) where all 

 the farm-houses of a parish were collected into a village, 

 originally for the sake of mutual protection and defence, and 

 where all the neighbouring fields were cultivated in common. 

 In such crises, one yoking a-day, is frequently the plan adopt- 

 ed for working the servants and horses, to which, in conse- 

 quence of the distance of the fields from the residence of the 

 farmer, the name of journey is most emphatically and pro- 

 perly given. 



There can only be one reason for not having the farm-house 

 and offices in a central situation, and that is, when a better 

 command of water, for family use, for the farm stock, or for 

 driving a threshing-mill, can be had else-where. Sometimes, 

 also, wind cannot be commanded in the centre for the use 

 of a threshing-mill, by which a great saving in the labour of 

 horses might be obtained. These, however, are only excep- 

 tions to the general rule ; for it may be laid down as an 

 axiom in agriculture, " That the farm-house and offices ought 

 to be placed, as nearly as possible, in the centre of a farm." 



Where the circumstances of the case will admit of it, the 

 farm-house and offices should front the south, should be 

 sheltered from piercing winds, and the fold-yard should en- 

 joy the benefit of the morning sun in winter. The farm-stead 

 should be placed on an elevated situation. It is not only 

 healthier for the farmer, his family, and his servants, but 

 carts will bring home the corn in harvest time, with least 

 waste, when going up hill, and when empty, they can return 

 to the harvest field, in very urgent cases, with a quicker step, 

 which will much expedite the getting home and securing 



in a large farm, there is the difference of at least the labour of one man 

 throughout the year, between a convenient and inconvenient set of offices. 



