stone house was somewhat less than that of wood ; and in other 

 respects it is greatly to be preferred. 



I recollect a single instance only of a convenient barn cellar for 

 the deposit of the manure ; and its protection from the exhausting 

 and evaporating process of sun and air and rain. This is a most 

 important improvement yet to be made ; but it is certain the value 

 of manure is not half appreciated in this county. The broken char- 

 acter of the land throughout the county, affords every where the 

 finest locations for this object ; and if in addition to providing for a 

 location where a good cellar could be made under the barn, the 

 building should be so placed that the barn floor could be laid upon 

 the beams, and the drive-way be into the erid directly under the 

 roof, there would be an immense saving of room, labor, and fatigue. 

 In that case all the hay and grain would be j)itched down instead 

 of up ; and great despatch secured ; which, in capricious hay- 

 weather, is sometimes of great importance. The severe labor and 

 excessive heat commonly attendant upon pitching off and storing 

 away hay in our common barns would be also much alleviated. 

 Two barns in Worcester county, erected by those careful 

 and excellent husbandmen, the Shakers, are upon this plan, and 

 greatly approved for their convenience. I am promised a precise 

 account of their dimensions and arrangement, which I hope to be 

 able to lay before the public in my report of that county. They 

 combine many advantages ; and are an improvement upon the Penn- 

 sylvania barns, where the drive-way and entrance is usually in the 

 second story ; and the passage way is formed by an abutment on the 

 outside, presenting an ascent at an easy angle. In Lanesboro', in 

 one of ihe neatest establishments which I ever witnessed, there was 

 a little contrivance connected with the doors, the convenience of which 

 was admirable. The doors were none of them swung upon hinges ; 

 but run upon small wheels, and were made to slide in by the side of 

 the wall. These wheels or trucks were attached to the upper end 

 of the door by a small wooden ledge, by which the door was sus- 

 pended. The door when opened was entirely out of the way. It 

 could be opened a greater or a less distance at pleasure. There was 

 no groove at bottom to become filled up with dirt, and obstruct the 

 opening of the door ; and there was no occasion of clearing away any 

 snow or other accidental obstruction from other matters, which 



