488 
Covered Cattle Yards. 
slate excepted. But a few more years of experience are wanted 
to confirm the opinion held by many as to this, and therefore, 
without going to extremes, the following deductions may be 
fairly drawn : — 
1. That, both from an economical and utilitarian point of 
view, corrugated iron roofs for Cattle Yards are inferior to, and 
least desirable of, all the modes that have come under review. 
2. That a roof embodying in construction the principle of 
ventilation recommended by Sir H. M. Thompson, whether 
covered with slate or tile, and the board roof originated by Mr. 
Cundy, about equally balance in point of economy ; but the first 
cost of the latter being only half that of the former, an owner 
adopting it is enabled at equal outlay to double the area of his 
roofing. Hence, in point of utility, it is greatly superior, and 
deserves consideration from those who yet have yards to cover. 
3. That a spaced open slated roof is the most economical of 
any, with ventilation not so perfect as the two last named, but 
yet in practice found to be fairly sufficient. 
Advantages of Covered Yards. 
Although the advantages arising from the use of Covered 
Yards are now generally well known, it may not be out of place 
to briefly summarise them here, premising that, though many 
writers since 1865 concur in placing them much higher than I 
did then, none have put them lower, and my own experience 
since entirely confirms what was then advanced. 
The first items to note are : — 
Economy of Food in conjunction with the Health and Well- 
doing of Stock. — Warmth being equivalent to food, where it 
oltains, as in a Covered Yard compared with an open one, food 
must be saved. The immunity from draughts and great variations 
of temperature, and shelter from storms and general inclement 
weather, which a judiciously ventilated Covered Yard ajfords, 
conduce to the comfort, health, and general well-doing of its 
inmates. Animals so favoured not only require less food, but 
render a better account of what they do consume than do those 
kept under contrary conditions. 
The money value of these advantages has been estimated 
at from Gd. to Is. per head per week during thirty weeks of 
winter. Although I quite believe the latter is not at all too 
high, I prefer to take the middle course, and say 9d., thus show- 
ing a gain of 22s. 6d. per head. 
Superiority of Manure, and Economy in its Application. — 
Manure made in Covered Yards is unquestionably very superior 
