108 THE EQUIPMENT OF THE FARM. 



placed in a loft over the chaff house ; the root-pulper is 

 likewise most conveniently placed in or close to the chaff 

 house. All these machines are fixed and so arranged as to 

 he driven from a single shaft, to which a portahle engine 

 can be readily attached^ The chaff and mixing room should 

 occupy a central position, with the root and mill rooms on 

 either side. A small shed is necessary to house the portahle 

 engine. This shed should he so placed that the driving 

 belt from the flywheel can communicate with a rigger on 

 a main shaft, and thus supply the requisite power. On 

 small occupations it will be found more economical to hire 

 a threshing machine than to purchase it. It is a costly piece 

 of machinery, which at most would only be used a few days 

 in the year. Unless the water supply can be obtained by 

 gravitation, the engine should be used to pump the water 

 into a tank sufficiently elevated to command the whole of 

 the buildings. The portable engine might be still further 

 utilised during the busy period of spring or summer in 

 working a small set of roundabout cultivating tackle. 



Hay barns effect an immense saving, not only in the cost 

 of thatch and labour, but also in avoiding the risk incurred 

 by open ricks from the effects of sudden heavy rainfall 

 during the progress of haymaking. These barns are 

 usually 18 to 24 feet wide and 18 to 20 feet high to the 

 springing of the roof. Iron or wooden piers are fixed in 

 the ground, about 10 feet apart. A wall plate runs along 

 the top, and thus tends to keep the piers in position. 

 In order to increase the stability of the structure, short 

 wing braces are sometimes added. Light principals of wood 

 or iron are fixed 10 feet apart, the roof is covered either with 

 ^-inch boards or corrugated galvanised sheets, the latter for 

 preference. With fair usage they will last for many years. 



