CONSTRUCTION OF A FARM-HOUSE AND OFFICES. 25 



yet it would never do, for feeding valuable cattle for the 

 butcher. 



Feeding-houses are, in some respects, well calculated for 

 fattening cattle, and are less objectionable in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of a market. The animals are kept warm 

 and quiet, and each can have the due portion of food al- 

 lotted to him ; but the animals having no exercise when 

 thus stall-fed, cannot be so healthy, nor the meat so whole- 

 some, as when kept in fold-yards or open sheds. The legs 

 of cattle also, more especially in the case of heavy oxen, 

 when confined to one spot, are so apt to swell,* that they are 

 hardly able to go to any distance. Where a less confined 

 mode of feeding is adopted, the cattle not only thrive better, 

 but the expence is considerably less. 



On the whole, the third plan, that of Hammels, though 

 the most expensive, yet is certainly to be preferred. I first 

 had the satisfaction of seeing them at Mr Robertson's of 

 Ladykirk, in Berwickshire. An engraving of this excellent 

 plan is annexed, which will give an idea of the form of the 

 construction. The advantages of it are described by Mr 

 Robertson in the following terms : " I have found these 

 " hammels or cattle-sheds, much better than any large or 

 " open court and yard Cattle kept in great numbers, waste 

 " more straw, they fight, and hurt one another with their 

 " horns. All this is prevented when they are kept in sepa- 

 " rate divisions ; and, above all, in these hammels, we can 

 " give them what meat we choose, and in what proportion 

 " we think proper ; and can separate those of different ages, 

 " which ought not to be associated together." 



This plan, however, is not confined to cattle ; a spirited 



* It is remarked, that the legs of cattle fed in stalls on yams, or ex- 

 clusively on raw potatoes, are particularly apt to swell. 



