244 THE BOOK OF THE LANDED ESTATE. 



buildings as they are generally found at the present time that is, they 

 were all considered ample enough for the farms at the time they were 

 erected ; but as improvements have taken place in agriculture, and 

 more stock and crop been reared in consequence, they are now found 

 not only much too small, but in their general arrangements unsuited to 

 the present state of farming, and therefore require to be generally altered 

 to make them up to the time. A great fault in erecting farm-steadings 

 has always been to have them put up in such a way as to cost as little 

 as possible. Now I am not one to recommend extravagant or unneces- 

 sary outlay in any respect, and would especially protest against all 

 superfluity in regard to style and ornament in farm-buildings, as this 

 can only lay an extra burden on the tenant ; but at the same time I 

 think it is bad economy in a landlord to stint the steading accommo- 

 dation for his tenants, seeing that, if they turn out improving and 

 successful, they are more likely to require larger premises than are even 

 at the time considered necessary. 



All the compartments of a farm-steading should be roomy and airy, 

 with good ventilation, constructed so as to avoid draughts ; and every one 

 should be in connection with the other, according to their respective 

 uses in the economy of the work. A complete supply of good water 

 should be secured for each compartment where beasts are kept, and 

 every requisite should be fitted up for its being readily used by them, 

 as much of the health of the animals depends on this. 



SECTION 2. Labourers' Cottages. 



Labourers' cottages are the next branch of farm and estate buildings 

 requiring a few remarks. Although these are indispensably necessary 

 on an estate, and on any farm of considerable extent, to enable the 

 tenant to keep his labourers conveniently for their work, still in all 

 parts of the country there are estates on which there are few or no cot- 

 tages for the labourers required on the estate generally, these having to 

 be lodged, for the most part, in the houses of the tenants, along with 

 themselves and families, or in villages at a distance from their work. 

 This is not a proper state of things in rural districts, as every tenant's 

 family should have their own house to themselves, and should not be 

 subjected to the inconvenience of having to slum the part of the house 

 occupied by the labourers who lodge in it. In regard to labourers' 

 cottages, I have to suggest, then, that there should be one erected for 

 the accommodation of each permanent labourer on every farm. Of 

 late years, however, much more attention has been paid to this than 



