CHAPTER XIX. 



ON FARM-BUILDINGS AND LABOURERS' COTTAGES. 

 SECTION 1. Dwelling-Houses Farm-Steadings. 



FARM-BuiLDiNGS may properly be divided into two classes namely, 

 Dwelling-Houses for the farmers ; and Farm-Steadings, in which the 

 farmers store and manufacture their produce, and rear their cattle. To 

 each of these classes of buildings I shall advert in their order. 



It is a remarkable fact that farmers, generally speaking, are worse 

 accommodated in regard to the houses in which they live than any other 

 class of business people having a similar amount of capital engaged in 

 trade. In all parts of the country we see men, occupying consider- 

 able farms, who are living in houses very little better than those occu- 

 pied by the labouring classes in the same districts. Now and then, it is 

 true, we see a farmer occupying a suitable and commodious house ; but 

 for one we find in this happy condition, there are at least twenty other- 

 wise circumstanced. To say the least of this state of things in regard to 

 farmers, it must be confessed that it does not indicate a high degree of re- 

 finement and intelligence among them ; for in most cases where men are 

 intelligent and refined, they live in houses somewhat suitable to their qua- 

 lifications ; and indeed we are generally in the habit of judging of a man's 

 character and attainments by the house in which he lives. But, be this 

 as it may, it is a well-known fact to all who are well acquainted with the 

 subject under notice, that farmers' houses are, generally speaking, of a 

 very inferior description, and but ill adapted to the wants of the people 

 who inhabit them. -This, in a great many instances, may be the fault of 

 the landlords more than the farmers. I know of many farmers occupy- 

 ing farms from one hundred to two hundred acres in extent, and who 

 have capital engaged in their business varying from 1000 to 4000, 

 living in houses having only a kitchen and parlour on the ground-floor, 

 with a small bedroom and pantry behind these, and two small attic bed- 

 rooms above. The apartments in these houses are generally small, and 

 low in the ceilings, so that there is but little breathing-space in them ; 



