Farm- Buildings and Cottages. 133 



lity, and not ornament, ought principally to be kept in view ; 

 Castellated farm-houses, for instance, are evidently absurd 

 and incongruous. At the same time, every landlord of taste, 

 in fixing on the site and plan of a new farm-house and of- 

 fices, ought certainly not entirely to overlook the embellish- 

 ment of the country. It is disputed, whether the house 

 ought to have either wings, or a lean-to behind, or whether 

 the whole should be under one roof. Many think that a 

 house of three stories, the kitchen half sunk, is the driest, 

 the cheapest, and the most convenient. Others prefer, ha- 

 ving the kitchen in a wing, attached to the house, which, 

 on the whole, is to be recommended ( 23 '). 



A farm-house ought not only to be convenient, but should 

 have such a degree of neatness and uniformity, that an idea 

 of comfort and happiness may be given. It should have a 

 little plot of garden ground or shrubbery either before or 

 behind it. In the latter case, it is placed more distant 

 from the effluvia of the dunghill. In the former, the offices, 

 servants, and cattle, are more immediately in sight. The 

 windows should be large, and the sashes should be placed 

 rather nearer the outside of the wall than is usual ; because, 

 if wet, they will, in that case, sooner become dry. The 

 house should be at a moderate distance from the offices, not 

 only for the sake of purer air, but that the risk of setting the 

 offices on fire, by sparks from the chimnies of the house, 

 maybe avoided ( 23z ). This is another argument for having 

 the garden between the house and the farm-yard. 



4. Arrangement of the offices. The proper arrangement 

 of farm-offices, when first built, is of essential consequence, 

 for any blunder committed in this respect, can seldom after- 

 wards be remedied. Peculiarities in the situation, such as 

 a run of water for turning a thrashing-mill, declivity of 

 ground, &c. will occasion a variety in the arrangement ; but 

 that set of offices can alone be said to be laid out to the best 

 advantage, where the buildings are so placed, as to carry 

 on the business of the farm in the most economical manner. 

 Thus, easy access from the stack-yard to the barn ; from 

 the barn to the granary ; the proximity of the straw- house, 

 and turnip store-room, to the feeding-houses, straw-yards, 

 &c. ; a ready access from the road to the cart-sheds, farm- 

 stables, and other offices ; together with proper shelter 

 and exposure, constitute the chief requisites in the arrange- 

 ment. By arranging the offices properly, more labour can 

 be obtained from the servants, while every operation on the 

 farm, is carried on with more facility and dispatch. 



