NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



tl7 



COTTAGES. 



On the opposite page is the representation of a 

 cottage, on a plan well calculated to afford comfort, 

 with economy in building. It is well adapted to a 

 small family, having on the ground floor a large par- 

 lor ; a dining-room, of moderate size, which may also 

 be u-sed for a sitting-room ; a kitchen, pantry, and 

 hall. 



On the second floor there is room for four bed- 

 rooms, and a hall through the centre, well lighted, 

 affording convenient access to each room distinctly. 

 There is room in the attic for small sleeping-rooms, 

 or for a store-room. The whole plan combines good 

 taste, ornament, convenience, and economy. 



This cottage maj' be built of any materials the 

 owner prefers as to taste or economy — wood, brick, 

 or stone. Our engraving represents the walls cov- 

 ered with boards vertically, and battened, which, 

 when well done, with clear stuff, well jointed, neatly 

 battened, and painted a suitable color, is beautiful 

 and durable, and in better taste than clapboards 

 painted white. In this mode of covering, the water 

 runs with the grain of the boards, so that the v/ear 

 of the walls is very little ; and, the outer substance 

 being thick, it will last a great while. We would 

 recommend either of the following colors instead of 

 white, (see page 222,) drab, French gray, light slate, 

 fawn, chocolate, or straw color. They are generally 

 cheaper and more substantial, and in much better 

 taste for cottages. 



It has been a custom with many farmers to build 

 very large houses, and finish only a part. Such 

 buildings are very expensive, and as to comfort and 

 neatness, they are inferior to small, neat cottages. 



FALKIRK TRYST. 



The largest cattle market in the kingdom, uniting 

 sheep and cattle, takes place three times a year — on 

 the second Tuesday in August, September, and Octo- 

 ber, at Falkirk, in .Scotland, about equidistant from 

 Edinburgh and Glasgow. This is called the Falkirk 

 Tryst, and is held on an extensive plain, about three 

 or four miles from the town. Here are congregated 

 a vast number of horses, cattle, and sheep, and of 

 buyers and sellers. It was estimated, when I was 

 there, that the number of cattle then on the ground 

 exceeded fifty thousand head, and of sheep seventy 

 thousand ; and the banker informed me that the 

 money employed in the negotiation would exceed 

 three hundi'ed thousand pounds, or one million and 

 a half of dollars. The cattle and sheep exhibited at 

 this tryst are almost altogether of the Scotch breeds, 

 and many come from the remote Highlands. They 

 are purchased to be distributed in the neighborhood 

 and the southern provinces for wintering, or for 

 fatting for the winter and spring markets. Besides 

 cattle and sheep, a large number of horses are brought 

 for sale at the same time ; as many as three thousand 

 horses are sometimes offered for sale, and the field 

 presents the appearance of a grand military display ; 

 indeed, I have seldom seen a sight more imposing. 

 For a week or more before the tryst, the roads lead- 

 ing to Falkirk will be found crowded with successive 

 droves of cattle and sheep, proceeding to this central 

 point ; and it is extremely curious, on the field, to see 

 with what skill and care the different parties and 

 aerda are kept together by themselves. la this 



matter, the shepherds are greatly assisted bj' their 

 dogs, who appear endowed with a sagacity almost 

 human, and almost to know every individual belong- 

 ing to their charge. They are sure, with an iiifiex- 

 iblo pertinacity, to follow and biiiig back a deserter 

 to the flock. Purchasers come in geat numbers 

 from various parts of the kingdom. S<)nie cattle arc 

 bought to bo resold at other and smaller markets. 

 The larger number arc bouj;ht in order to be fed or 

 fatted on the arable farms at the south. Cattle which 

 have thus been driven from the extreme north are 

 afterwards to be found even in Cornwall, at the 

 Land's End. 



The sales in these cases arc, of course, for cash. 

 Bankers are always present, or near at hand, to facil- 

 itate the transactions. Here, at a distance little less 

 than four hundred miles from London, bankers go 

 down from London, carrying their funds with them, 

 and occupying, during the time of the niaiket, (which 

 continues at least four days,) a temporary stand or 

 ofhce in the field. — CjIihchis Tour, 



LIME AND SALT MIXTURE. 



In a former article on this subject, we stated that, 

 for the purpose of making the chloride of lime, and 

 carbonate of soda, as the resultants from the admix- 

 ture of lime and salt, three bushels of shell lime 

 should be slaked with one bushel of salt dissolved in 

 water. Since writing the article above referred to, 

 we have received a letter froi'h a practical friend, 

 stating that he could not use so large a quantity of 

 the solution of salt with the lime, and that he had 

 therefore been compelled to mix part of the salt in. 

 an undissolved state with the lime. He suggests, 

 also, that we should further exijlnin, to prevent simi- 

 lar difficulties arising with others. 



If the three bushels of shell lime be hot from the 

 kiln, it will take up as much water as is necessary to 

 dissolve one bushel of salt ; but if it be long exposed 

 to the action of the atmosphere, it will not readily 

 receive so large a quantity. In such case, we should 

 advise that after the mass has been tu:ned over, new 

 portions of the solution of salt should be added each 

 day, until the necessary quantity is combiaed. We 

 have often met with the same difhculty, but have 

 continued daily to add the solution of salt mitil the 

 evaporation from the mass enables it to receive the 

 necessary quantity. The undissolved salt which our 

 friend has added, he will find combined afcer the 

 mass has been several times turned over ; but it will 

 require more time to complete the combination. — 

 Working Farmei: 



THE TWO SYSTEMS OF FARMING. 



Under a low standard of agriculture, the object of 

 the farmer is to collect the natural produce of the 

 soil with the expenditure of as little money or labor 

 as possible. But under a high standard, he does not 

 grudge expense of labor, nor of manure, in order to 

 obtain a proportionate increase of produce ; and he 

 studies to obtain this by cultivatin i; crops congeui.il 

 to the soil, by growing them in such order that its 

 natural powers shall be turned to the best advantage. 

 — Wisconsin Farmer. 



CURE FOR DISTEMPER IN DOGS. 



Take as much tui-pcth mineral as will lie on a five- 

 penny bit, make it in a pill or two, with butter, and 

 give the dog : it will cause him to vomit, and cure 

 him. This 1 have done often, and never knew it W 

 fail. — Ameriean Farmer. 



