CONSTRUCTION OF A FARM-HOUSE AND OFFICES. 23 



to enable him also to try experiments, with new plants, on a 

 small scale ; to train up his rising family to an attention to 

 such objects, and to furnish his table with small domestic 

 luxuries, which no farmer would be willing to purchase, if 

 he can procure them at home. 



12. It is a peculiar feature of the improved husbandry of 

 Scotland, that in all the best cultivated districts, cottages 

 are considered to be as indispensable as a barn or a stable. 

 They should be placed at some distance from the farm offi- 

 ces, and it is desirable that there should be a small byre for 

 their cows, near their houses, so that the women and chil- 

 dren may have no pretence to come near the farmer's offi- 

 ces, except when called on. These byres should be acces- 

 sible at all times to the farmer, or his confidential servants ; 

 and an allowance of straw and hay, (or sometimes a few 

 turnips) should be regularly served out, and divided among 

 their owners, at a certain hour every day. If the cows are 

 not soiled, it is not uncommon to keep a field in grass, near 

 the cottage, for the summer pasture of the servants cows ; 

 but if the farmer resides on the ground, they usually pasture 

 along with his own. 



In conformity to these principles, the annexed sketch has 

 been drawn up, pointing out the proper position of a farm- 

 house and offices, accompanied by the plan of a farm, whe- 

 ther the soil be of a strong or of a light description : and 

 explaining the rotations adopted, according to the most im- 

 proved systems of Scotch husbandry. 



It would be entering into too wide a field, to dwell on the 

 various offices necessary for the accommodation of a large 

 farmer, more especially as that subject is very fully detailed, 

 in a valuable paper, printed in the communications to the 

 Board of Agriculture,* and will be fully explained in the 



See a paper on Farm-buildings in general, by Robert Beatson, Esq. 



