Farming of East Lothian. 



293 



opposite. On tlie other two sides are feeding-bjres or courts, 

 also a cart-shed. The interior of the square is usually divided 

 into courts for cattle. The material used in buildings is stone — 

 frequently whin — but sandstone, if convenient, is preferred. The 

 common roofing; material is tile. The dwelling-house for the 

 farmer is usually commodious and comfortable ; roof, of slate ; 

 not so, however, with the accommodation for farm-labourers. 

 This usually consists of a row of cottages in a continuous line ; 

 a separate one for the overseer being sometimes provided. The 

 number of the cottages has reference to the size of the holding, 

 the desire being to have all the persons employed on the farm 

 resident, and at convenient proximity to the steading. A farm 

 of 375 acres may have nine to twelve cottages. These consist 

 usually of one single apartment,built of stone and lime ; the interior 

 of the walls roughly plastered ; the roof of tile, seldom coom- 

 ceiled ; the floor of clay, mixed with ashes and lime ; one door 

 and two windows — one of these two or four panes of glass. 

 Water is never introduced, and sanitary arrangements are all but 

 disregarded, the sty for the pig being the only other erection for 

 the convenience of the farm labourer. The more recently erected 

 cottages are improved by having two, and in some instances 

 three, apartments provided. These, however, being usually all 

 on the ground-floor, would not be according to the taste of an 

 English cottager. Another step in advance would be to build 

 the cottages detached, and off the road at least ten yards. The 

 farm-buildings are seldom wholly renewed — a system of patch- 

 ing being too frequent. The common result is inconvenient and 

 ill-arranged steadings. 



The outlay connected with the erection or improvement of 

 farm-buildings is usually borne by the proprietor, the tenant 

 almost invariably performing the cartage at his own expense^ 

 These buildings are generally erected by contract, but there is 

 seldom any supervision except by the agent and farmer. When 

 any alterations are stipulated for, a sum is usually agreed upon. 

 The receipt from the contractor is produced by the tenant, and 

 the sum covenanted for is deducted from the rent. Under such 

 circumstances, the tenant often expends a larger sum than that 

 stipulated for, but of course out of his own capital. The 

 necessary repairs during a lease are borne by the tenants, who 

 on some estates are bound to insure the buildings against fire. 



The barn is usually of two stories. The threshing mill and 

 motive power are fixed, and belong to the tenant, being re- 

 movable at the end of his lease. The stable is constructed to 

 contain all the farm-horses, whether the number be six, eighteen, 

 or more. The courts for cattle are constructed to contain from 

 SIX to ten. The sheds are made with one, two, or more open- 



X 2 



