Covered Cattle-yards, ft til 
The labour of levelling the yard, and making a ntw road intoit, and 
the expense of alterations for turnip-house, are not included. The 
tenants carted the sleepers from the railway-station, and levelleJ 
the yard. The cost comes out something under 5s. the square 
yard for the covering in and providing three sides of the fencing. 
At present half the yard is occupied by straw, and I have no 
doubt that after next harvest the yard will probably be nearly filled 
with barley sheaves for the first threshing after harvest. I find 
that the covered yards are frequently used for this purpose, as they 
are not required for cattle until after the first lot of corn is sent to 
market. If the corn be not stored there for a time, the yards are always 
most useful receptacles each evening at harvest-time for several 
cartloads of sheaves which may be gathered at the close of the day. 
These being put in this manner under cover are ready for the stack in 
the early morning, when, perhaps, heavy dews may 
r -jc^^ . prevent the collection of sheaves in the fields. 
' \^ , As there have been some inquiries as to the spout 
#4] girder which we use between the roofs when there is 
'^ a double or treble span, I add a sketch of the same. 
Ena view Xh e length of the girder gives the distance between 
12 ful 
Side view 
each pillar in the yard. The cost of these girders is 8s. per cwt., and 
as each weighs about 9 cwt. 1 qr., the cost per girder is 3/. lis. Od. 
In addition to two with slates and tour with tiles, I have now- 
erected twelve boarded roofs for yards, and I believe all my 
tenants are quite satisfied with them. I am inclined to think 
that from the thorough ventilation obtained they are very healthy 
for stock. The yards are not too hot, and yet are warm enough 
for shelter and comfort. The manure comes out in first-rate con- 
dition, and there is no accumulation of dust and dirt, and, so far, 
very little cost in repair. My tiled roofs have suffered far more 
from gales of wind than the boarded ones. 
The rain-water readily runs otf the roofs, and if well spouted — 
which I consider to be a sine qud non for these yards — an ample 
supply of rain water may be collected from them. Not long since I 
took shelter under one of my timber roofs during a violent thunder- 
storm, when the spouts could not carry away the water, which ran 
over in all directions ; but only a slight spray came through the 
interstices of the boards. 
We have not yet had experience as to the life of the roofs, but 
even were they to require to be renewed after thirty years, I believe 
they would be well worth erecting, both for landlord and tenant. I 
hope, however, that with proper care and attention we may look for 
a much longer life than I have indicated. 
John Dent Dent. 
