24 CONSTRUCTION OF A FARM-HOUSE AND OFFICES. 



General Report on the Agricultural State of Scotland, now 

 preparing to be laid by the Board of Agriculture, before his 

 Majesty, and both Houses of Parliament. But it may be 

 necessary to dwell on two points : 1. The construction of 

 convenient places for feeding cattle, for the purpose both 

 of consumin:* the turnips, and the straw raised on the farm, 

 and for converting the surplus straw into dung ; and, 2. On 

 the best plan of a stack-yard. 



In regard to the feeding cattle, three plans have been 

 suggested for that purpose : The first is to feed them in 

 large open yards ; the second, in feeding-houses ; and the 

 third, in small open sheds, or what, in Berwickshire, are 

 called Hammels or Hemmels, with separate straw-yards at- 

 tached to each. 



The plan of fold-yards is certainly the cheapest, being in 

 general formed by the offices which aftbrd shelter to the 

 cattle ; but where a number of animals, of all sorts and ages, 

 are suffered to mingle together, many accidents must hap- 

 pen, and the cattle must often be injured, by going through 

 a yard full of straw and dung, and often very deep, in which 

 they are apt to sink, * and by master cattle preventing the 

 others from feeding. Though this plan might answer for 

 young cattle, where divisions are made by walls or hurdles, 



Communications to the Board of Agriculture, v. i. p. 3. But by far the 

 best plan of a farm-house and offices hitherto published, is to be found 

 in Mr Kerr's valuable report of Berwickshire. It is founded on actual 

 experience, and comprehends every convenience essential to the accom- 

 modation of a large farmer. 



* This is often the case, though in well-regulated farms the dung is 

 never suffered to remain in the court or fold-yard, but is carried out, be- 

 fore it becomes so rotten that the cattle can sink in it. This is sometimes 

 done in wet weather, that the dung may have sufficient moisture to make 

 it ferment, but is better done in frosty weather, when more can be carri- 

 ed in each cart, and the fields are less liable to be poached. " 



