482 
Covered Cattle Yards. 
the present time, 30s. is a fair price for it. Mr. Dent's bailiff 
quoted the price of a large yard roofed five years ago in a very 
practical workmanlike way at 3s. 2d. Lord Wenlock's clerk of 
works quotes 4s. as -about the cost at Escrick, but the roofs 
there are constructed with substantial main timbers, with the 
view to slating at some future time should it be found expedient, 
and hence the high cost. On the Duke of Cleveland's estate, a 
yard done in a very substantial manner, with one-inch boardsj 
creosoted, cost 5s. per square yard roofed over. With these 
varied experiences it would be unwise to draw a hard-and-fast 
line, and say the cost is so-and-so, as so much depends on 
design and materials used ; but this may be safely affirmed — 
that, with the present prices of materials and labour, to cover 
with best quality of f-inch boards, 3s. Gd. per yard of ground 
roofed over may be taken as a full price for good, substantial 
work. 
To bring the board roof into line for comparison with the 
others, it is, like them, debited with iron pillars, but in practice, 
where a double span is necessary, oak posts are invariably used 
as central supports. A simple, inexpensive, but very efficient 
way of connecting the posts with the plate and tiebeams is 
effected by means of a cast-iron cap fitted on top of the former, 
with flanges extending for reception of the latter. This was 
devised by Mr. Dent Dent, and was first used on his estate at 
Ribston, but it has been very generally copied by his neighbours. 
The sketches in Fig. 5, p. 481, will show how the connection 
is accomplished. 
Corrurjated Iron Roofs. 
These, within the last few years, have also had a fair share 
of patronage. They are quickly erected, and, for a certain time, 
require no attention to keep in repair. Opinion, however, varies 
much as to what time will elapse before such is required, and 
it is generally assumed that, when oxidation does gain a hold, 
deterioration will be rapid. A coat of paint is strongly recom- 
mended as a preservative — but this, applied biennially outside 
and inside, would entail a considerable burden on the tenant, 
and on but few of the roofs which I have inspected has it been 
used. 
Owing to iron being a rapid conductor of heat and cold, 
variations of temperature are more readily felt under its cover, 
rendering the yards in winter cold, and in summer very hot; and 
I doubt if cattle can do so well under them as under roofs 
covered with materials of less conductive-power where the tem- 
perature is more equable. Ventilation also is usually inferior in 
