804 



The Equipment of Small Holdings. [Dec. 



entirely neglected. If the architectural problem is considered 

 at the same time as the division of the land, some architec- 

 tural advantage may be obtained without any detriment to 

 purely agricultural requirements. The grouping of buildings 

 should tend to a saving in the cost of building by simplifying 

 the work of supervision and by reducing the cost of the 

 cottages. The possibilities of centralising the arrangements 

 for water supply, drainage and lighting may also offer a means 

 of reducing cost. A principle now, by the process of trial and 

 error, is that the buildings of small holders should as far as 

 possible be grouped together in neighbourly fashion and not 

 dotted about as isolated unsociable units. At the same time/ 

 it is to be remembered that against the amenities of centralisa- 

 tion must be balanced the natural desire of the cultivator to 

 live close to his steading and his land, and dispositions should 

 be made that will give the highest common measure of both 

 social and agricultural advantages. Under social advantages 

 are counted the presence of near neighbours, in case of illness 

 or other emergency; possibility of co-operative road transport; 

 post, telephonic shopping and other facilities, as well as 

 opportunities of general social intercourse and the exchange of 

 ideas. Another factor to be considered is greater accessibility 

 to outside influence, for example, by lecturers, agricultural and 

 other. 



In choosing sites for cottages important points to be con- 

 sidered are sound foundations, good water supply and 

 convenient drainage. These conditions are most frequently 

 satisfied by a gently sloping hillside. Shelter should be sought 

 from the usually prevailing winds or very infrequent, but 

 searching, north-east gales, or both. This must be obtained 

 by the wise use of natural cover, trees and local accidents to 

 the ground. As a rule adequate shelter can be obtained by the 

 careful gTouping of the buildings and by the judicious use of 

 trees and hedges. The maximum of sunlight should always 

 be sought for all rooms except the larder and dairy. In 

 planning each apartment the normal daily life of the inmates 

 must be kept continually in mind. It is desirable that a bed- 

 room should have an eastward window and that the parlour 

 should face the west. If the living-room can command the 

 path of the sun from dawn to dusk, so much the better. A 

 general southward aspect is usually considered the ideal. Sun- 

 light, although very important, is not everything, and care 

 should be taken in arranging the general outlook of the 



