CHAP. i. POSITION OF FARM BUILDINGS. 659 



" dairy apartments " proper. This has not been done because, accord- 

 ing to the plan decided upon, these may either form part of the general 

 plan of the homestead, or be placed in an isolated range of buildings. 

 Each method has its advocates, and there is, as usual in such cases, a 

 great deal to be said on both sides of the question. The great argu- 

 ment in favour of having the dairy-rooms isolated from the general 

 buildings is that the milk is removed from the cow-house or byre, and 

 thus the risk of its becoming tainted is greatly lessened. The import- 

 ance of this we have already fully discussed in its appropriate place. 

 On the other hand, by having the dairy -room isolated from the general 

 buildings, considerable loss of time is incurred, whilst there are other 

 inconveniences which will be obvious on consideration. Taking, how- 

 ever, all the points involved, we should be inclined to say that the 

 balance of opinion as to the scientific treatment of the milk, &c., is in 

 favour of having the dairy-rooms quite isolated from the general farm 

 apartments in which work is continually going on, and giving rise to 

 taints and smells, dust, &c., which cannot but be prejudicial more or 

 less to the dairy products. A very slight consideration of the subject 

 will show that there is something in the general farm apartments, as 

 the cow-house or byre, quite antagonistic to the work of the dairy 

 proper. The points connected with the apartments which are generally 

 known as the " dairy," we have already discussed in connection with 

 " Mixed Husbandry Homestead." 



Having now examined the two representative plans embracing all or 

 nearly all the various apartments required in steadings to suit the 

 necessities of different styles of farming, we have next to consider 

 the general points connected with all homesteads, such as the site, 

 position, and allied details. 



And first as to the position on the farm. Much discussion has 

 arisen on the point as to what part of the farm the buildings should be 

 placed upon. The central point seems to be the most convenient, as 

 all the carting to the fields of manure, and from them of produce, will 

 be equalised between the various parts of the farm. But this rule 

 may have to be modified according to circumstances, such as the 

 proximity to the main road, and to the railway station, and the places at 

 which the best supply of water can be obtained. This latter is, indeed, 

 the point which will most often decide the position of the buildings on 

 the farm, for water both of good qaality and in abundance is essential ; 

 but should water only be obtainable in unfavourable situations, it may 

 be necessary to build the homestead in a convenient place, and force tiic 

 water to it by means of a hydraulic ram, or other mechanical method. 

 The first thing to be done, therefore, is to ascertain where water is most 

 conveniently obtainable. As there is carting to, as well as from, the build- 

 ings, a comparatively level situation is better than one on a hillside, 

 but occasionally advantage is taken of a sharp hillside to save trouble in 

 filling barns, &c., for a roadway may be constructed on the higher side 

 of the buildings in such a manner that the carts stand on a level with 

 the upper windows, so that there is no lifting required by the man 

 emptying. Few farmsteads surpass one held by Mr. George Street, of 



u u 2 



