Farming of Cumberland. 



297 



afterwards becomes daily more tough and sapless." .... " Grass 

 should never remain spread over night if possible, as both capil- 

 lary attraction and dew will injure it." He also very properly 

 " objects to large cocks as well as tramped pikes, on the principle 

 of aiming at one fermentation only." And " When the weather 

 has continued long unfavourable haycocks should be placed on 

 fresh ground, first taking off the top entire, turning and shaking 

 the remainder, and next replacing the top." 



Less difficulty is experienced in making hay near the shore, 

 where the fall of rain is so much less than among the mountains.^ 



Several yeomen and gentlemen farming their own estates have 

 hay-barns on the Dutch system of slate roofs on stone pillars.! 

 Some are open on both sides, with closed ends ; and others are 

 closed on one side, and on one or both ends. Mr. Grainger 

 estimates the cost of this kind of barn, open on one side and one 

 end, at 12/. per length of 10 feet, with 21 feet in width, and 15 

 feet high • to hold 140 cubic yards. 



A less substantial, but less expensive and equally useful kind 

 of hay-barn has been adopted by a few in West Cumberland, 



This consists of a sheet-iron roof on a slight deal frame, which 

 slides up or down on larch poles. The rafters of the framing 

 are placed at distances to fit the size of the sheets of iron, and 

 these have one or two coats of paint or gas-tar before being fixed 

 on the roof. The nails used are first heated to a dull red, and, 

 while hot, are soaked in linseed oil to prevent rust, and are driven 



* Bailey and Culley say of Cumberland hay-growers : — " We do not find anything 

 particularly excellent in their practice ; the only singularity is that the occupiers of 

 small farms put the whole of their hay into barns ; the larger farmers stack theirs 

 at their doors." The small farmers have room for their crops at the present day. 



t Dutch bams, being open on one or both sides, admit snow and rain, and suffer 

 the hay to be blown out, when not entirely full. 



X And in Alston also, in the Eastern division. 



x2 



