Book IV. 



FARMERIES. 



461 



433 



O^TI 



circular, square, or angular base, having a few 

 short spars nailed across, or a straw rope wrap- 

 ped round. 



2912. The stack-cover is a cloth or canvass 

 covering, for suspending over stacks during the 

 time of their being built to protect them from 

 rain. A simple implement of this sort has 

 long been in use in Kent; but it has been 

 improved on by Sir Joseph Banks, so as to 

 become more manageable, though somewhat 

 more costly. It consists of two long upright 

 poles fixed into two cart wheels: a rope, 

 managed by blocks and tackle, connects the 

 poles at top, and supports, raises, or lowers the 

 canvass roof in the usual manner of managing 

 tents and sails. Its construction and use will 

 be afterwards more particularly described. 



2913. The straw-yard is a term apj)lied to 

 enclosures in or about the farmyard, in which 

 cattle are turned in loose to eat straw. In 

 most cases this enclosure occupies the centre 



of the farm-yard, and includes the dung-basin, or it is a subdivision of the yardj 

 but in some cases enclosures and sheds are erected exterior to the farmyard, and near 

 the straw and root house. The great object in arranging straw-yards of this description, 

 is to provide a sufficient extent of sheds open to the south for cover to the cattle in severe 

 weather, and high fences or sheds on the east or west sides, according to their position 

 with relation to the main yard, for shelter. 



2914. The poultry-yard in most cases may be a very small enclosure, as the poultry of 

 common farmeries should be allowed to range over the straw-yards and most parts of the 

 premises, to pick up what cannot be got at by swine. 



2915. A tradesman's yard or small enclosure is often appended to the smith's and 

 carpenter's shops, as well to contain timber as implements in want of repair, &c. 



2916. A kitchen-garden is an essential appendage to the dwelling-house. Its situation 

 should be apart from the farmery, so as not to interfere with it, or be injured by the 

 blowing in of straws, &c. The size of the garden will, of course, depend somewhat on 

 that of the house and farm ; but as a small farmer with a large family will require as 

 many or more vegetables than one of a higher class, there can be no impropriety in the 

 garden being large. As potatoes and turnips, and sometimes other vegetables, may be 

 had of better quality from the field, some abatement of size may be allowed on this 

 account. In general, the garden need not be under a fourth of an acre, nor exceed twice 

 that quantity. The best fence is a wall, and next a close oak paling ; but if neither of 

 these can be had, a thorn hedge will answer, though it harbours vermin, and its roots 

 always rob a portion of the accompanying border. The best form is a parallelogram, 

 lying east and west, which may be intersected by walks, so as to divide it into four or 

 six other parallelograms, with a surrounding border as broad as the enclosure fence is 

 high. 



2917. An orchard may either be regularly formed on an allotted space ; or fruit trees 

 may be scattered over a lawn or piece of grass ground which may surround the ^louse. 

 In a convenient part of this orchard, posts should be fixed to form a drying ground, 

 unless the drying is performed by heated air or steam in the house. 



2918. T'he gardens appended to the labourers' cottages may contain from one eighth to one 

 sixth of an acre. Their situation should always adjoin the house ; but whether they 

 should surround it or enclose it on one pr more of its sides, must depend on the position 

 of the cowhouse belonging to each cottage. In some cases, and perhaps it is the best 

 plan, these cowhouses form a range by themselves, in a small field devoted to their 

 use, and situate behind the row of cottages. 



Sect. VI. Union of the different Farm Buildings and Enclosures in a Farmery. 



2919. Injixing the arrangement of a set of farm buildings, the first things, according to 

 Beatson, to be taken into considera!tion, after choosing the situation, are the nature and 

 produce of the farm. From these may be judged the different kinds of accommodation 

 that will be necessary. For example, every farm must have, first, a dwelling-house; 

 secondly, a barn suitable to the extent of arable land in the farm, either with or without 

 a threshing-mill, but always with one, if possible, and so placed as to go by water, if 

 a supply can be had ; thirdly, stables, the dimensions of which must be determined 

 according to the number of horses necessary for the farm ; fourthly, cowhouses, or 



