Farming of Cinnlcrland. 



277 



lime, or brick and lime, and roofed with blue slate ; or, wliere 

 sandstone of good quality is found in thin lamina% or admits of 

 being split, it is occasionally used, and makes a strong- but heavy 

 roof. In a few of the mountain vales the dwellings and farm 

 buildings are of stone without lime. They are dry and substan- 

 tial, but admit too free a ventilation even when plastered within,* 



The open square form of ground-plan, with the dwelling 

 forming one side and the out-offices the other three, and the 

 dung-heap in the centre of the inclosed space, is the most common 

 arrangement of the modern farm-yard. The back of the barn is 

 placed against a rising ground when convenient, and the entrance 

 for carts is then on the level with the loft barn, the cow-houses, 

 &c., being below it ; the building is then said to be under- 

 housed. On level sites this is effected by an artificial slope. 

 On the large farms the different buildings are kept more distinct. 



A better system is to have the houses containing the fodder 

 and roots placed centrally, and the feeding-houses on each side, 

 with the manure depot at one end of the whole. 



After the transition from war to peace, in 1815, had told its 

 disastrous tale on the profits of agriculture, it was remarked to the 

 writer by a shrewd Yorkshire grazier, who supplied his pastures 

 from this county, that " Cum.berland yeomen built themselves 

 out of doors." The remark was not altogether devoid of truth as 

 applied to that period, for many built expensively when both 

 produce and building materials as well as labour were high, 

 which they had cause to regret when the reaction took place ; 

 and instances may be found where the estate, including buildings, 

 has been sold for little more than the cost of the buildings alone. 

 Happily these instances were rare. 



Most of the farms on the estates of noblemen and gentlemen of 

 fortune are respectably built, and the upper and middle yeomanry, 

 provincially termed " statesmen" in the county, have studied 

 both comfort and convenience on rebuilding their homes, whilst 

 the smaller proprietors have been less able to spare enough for 

 those purposes without infringing on the claims of their families. 



Beyond a walking distance for labourers from towns and vil- 

 lages, a w^ant of cottages, and consequently of their inmates, is in 

 some districts experienced : but this is an affair which those who 

 feel the want will in time find a way to remedy. 



The situation of the farmstead is often injudiciously chosen. 

 In villages, Avhere the farms are intermixed, convenient sites are 

 difficult to find. On detached farms the ancient localities are in 

 most cases rebuilt upon, with the economical view of reserving 

 the best portions of the buildings ; and the original sites have 



* Floors and stairs of polished oak are to be seen in many farm-houses in the 

 mountain vales, and knobbed oaken doors, •without paint, are not scai'ce. 



