338 



Covered Farm- Steadings. 



difference was apparent ; but, shortly after the application of the 

 guano, the crop on that portion manured by the covered dung 

 took a decided lead, which it retained all summer. The 

 whole field was cut the 26th of August, 1852 ; the portion ma- 

 nured by the uncovered dung being at least 4 days earlier than 

 the other. As before, the two separate portions in each half of 

 the field were measured, cut, and stooked, separately ; on the 

 4th of September each portion was thrashed, the grain carefully 

 measured, and the straw weighed. The weather having been 

 rather wet, the grain was soft, and not in good order : this will 

 account for the light weight per bushel. The light crop beat 

 the heavy crop in quality by ^ lb. per bushel. 



Wheat on Uncovered Dung. 



Produce in Grain. Weight per Bush. Produce in Straw. 



Acre. Bush. lbs. lbs. Stones, lbs. 



1st. .. 41 19 .. 6U .. 152 of 22 



2nd. .. 42 38 .. 61* 160 „ 



Wheat on Covered Dung. 



Produce in Grain. Weight per Bush. Produce in Straw. 



Acre. Bush. lbs. lbs. Stones, lbs. 



1st. . . 55 5 . . 61 . . 220 of 22 



2nd. .. 53 47 61 .. 210 „ 



I have thus shown what I consider to be the advantage derived 

 from having the whole building under cover, and the importance 

 of compactness in the construction thereof. I now proceed 

 shortly to explain some of the details of the internal arrangement. 



I begin with the steam-engine. There is no doubt such a 

 power, where an abundant supply of water cannot be obtained, is 

 of great value, and owing to railways there are few places where 

 coals cannot now be procured, so as to render it advantageous to 

 employ steam in connection with farm-buildings. I believe it 

 to be still a disputed point whether it is of most advantage to 

 have a moveable or fixed engine. When a man has two or more 

 farms situated at a distance from each other, a moveable engine 

 may be of advantage ; but when this is not the case there can, I 

 think, be no doubt that a fixed one is preferable. The question 

 next arises as to the size of the engine. Considerable power, say 

 6 or 8-horse, is required to thrash and dress grain for the market, 

 but there are few farms where it will pay to keep this sized 

 engine constantly at work ; and yet, properly speaking, there is 

 not a day during 6 or 7 months of the year when the motive 

 power is not required. This subject has given me much con- 

 sideration ; and I have come to the conclusion that it is better 

 and cheaper to have 2 small engines of, say 3 or 4-horse power 

 each, than 1 large one ; the cost of the smaller engine is from 



