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XXI. — On Covered Homestalls. From W. Fisher Hobbs. 

 To the President. 



My dear Sir, — Although we have published in our Journals 

 several plans of farm-buildings within the last few years, yet I 

 believe we have not noticed the " covered homestalls " which are 

 by some approved of, and combine several advantages over those 

 generally in use. At your request, I have enclosed with this 

 letter a ground-plan and specification of a covered homestall, 

 together with isometrical drawings showing the exterior elevation 

 and internal arrangements of the same. This plan is suited to 

 an occupation of 300 acres (two-thirds arable and one-third grass), 

 and has lately been built at the Knapp Farm, near Ledbury, 

 a short distance from the Gloucester and Hereford turnpike- 

 road, on the estate of the Earl Somers, and which, for cost of 

 erection, general arrangement, regulation of temperature, and 

 style of building, is, in my humble opinion, worthy of the con- 

 sideration of landed proprietors and others who are concerned 

 in the improvement of estates, or take an interest in increasing 

 the production of the soil. 



I do not hold myself responsible for the estim^ates sent : they 

 are drawn up by an able architect, Mr. Day, of Worcester, 

 who has erected several covered homestalls upon the Eastnor 

 estate and in the neighbourhood ; and, from what I can ascertain, 

 I believe his calculations are quite correct. For the purpose of 

 comparison, Mr. Day has supplied me with specifications for 

 ordinary farm-buildings, adapted for a farm of the same size. 

 According to those calculations, it appears that a saving of 

 fully 10 per cent, would be effected by the erection of covered 

 homestalls instead of farm-buildings of the ordinary character, 

 besides having almost the entire control over the temperature of 

 the yards, Avhich is of greater importance to the comfort and 

 well-doing of the animals, and in the economy of their food, 

 than we generally imagine. 



The barn and granary are covered with a roof close boarded 

 and tiled, but the yards, stables, &c,, are covered with the 

 Bridgewater roof-tiles, one of which is represented on the fol- 

 lowing page. These are, in my opinion, peculiarly adapted to 

 the purpose. They are 14 inches square, and, when fixed, lap 

 over 2 inches ; consequently, 100 of them make 100 square feet 

 of tiling. Each one (although a perfect security against rain or 

 snow) acts as a ventilator, and therefore there is not that direct 

 draft or current of air which is so objectionable where it only 

 escapes through the sides or ends of buildings. This gradual 



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