Management of a Home Farm. 
257 
a desirable addition to the farm-staff. If the ashpit requires 
emptying, if the stores of faggots or charcoal need replenishing, 
if heavy luggage has to be taken to or to come from the railway- 
station, or a hundred other incidental wants arise, the "jobbing- 
cart " will come in as an essential addition. 
We now turn to consider — 
4. The Advantages and Drawbacks of such a connection. 
From what has been said under the preceding heads, but little 
room is left for remark here. Sir John Sinclair, wi'iting half a 
century ago, says : " It is not only a healthy but a useful employ- 
ment for gentlemen residing in the country to have some land in 
their own possession for the purpose of accommodation or amuse- 
ment, and to provide themselves with the various articles which 
their families may require. Perhaps these articles might often 
be purchased fully as cheap at market, and it might be more 
profitable to the proprietors to let the land at a fair rent ; but it 
would be highly unpleasant for any gentleman to have the servants 
of another over whom he could have no control working con- 
stantly near his own house, and to have scarcely a spot he could 
call his own on which he or his family could take air or exercise. 
What the extent of such farms should be it is not necessary to 
discuss, as so much depends upon the establishment kept by the 
proprietor, the time he resides in the country, and the degree of 
attention which he can give to his farm." * 
The supply of home-grown produce ensures, or at least ought 
to ensure, first-rate quality and perfect freshness. And if occa- 
sionally loss should arise, from having too heavy a stock — of dead 
meat, for instance — on hand, such an event need but rarely occur. 
Neighbouring butchers will readily purchase any surplus at a 
fair rate, or supply an occasional deficiency. If stock be some- 
times held for home consumption to a period beyond that at 
which it could be profitably disposed of, and if meat or other 
supplies be sent in at such a price as will not clear the farm for 
its outlay, such mistakes are rare, and may be avoided. If the 
coal-haulage for hall, gardens, and stables is performed by the 
farm, a convenient season may be chosen, so as neither to let the 
roads be cut up with heavy haulage in a wet time, nor interrupt 
the regularity of the supply. Where there is an arrangement for 
the performance of this labour by the tenants, such drawbacks 
are not infrequent. 
5, Management of Parks, Roads, and Drives. 
The quantity of grass-land which surrounds the larger country- 
* ' An Account of the Systems of Husbandry adopted in the more Improved 
Districts of Scotland.' Edinburgh, 1813. 
VOL. XXIII. S 
