474 Abstract Report of Agricultural Discussions. 
yard tkrougli its whole extent. This railway would then bring the 
corn from the ricks to be thrashed, take back the straw to be 
stacked, and return it, as reqmrcd, to the feeding boxes. The 
necessity for large bams is thus avoided. 
The question between fixed and locomotive engines is a most 
important one. There is no doubt that fixed engines work the best, 
and with the greatest economy ; and the point must be decided 
by the consideration, whether there is work enough at the home- 
stead to keep the engine sufficiently employed to pay ; or whether, 
from the nature or situation of the land, a locomotive could be em- 
ployed at difi"erent parts of the farm with greater advantage. As a 
general rule, a fixed engine would be best for a large farm, a loco- 
motive for a small one. In designing a farmery, therefore, where 
this point was not settled, it would be necessary to place the shed 
for the engine and boiler so that an engine could be backed into it. 
The engine should be close to its work, and so placed as to give 
direct action to all its working parts. This saves first cost and 
working cost. Horse-power might be occasionally used with advan- 
tage, and the thrashing-floor should be so placed as to admit of this ; 
and a floor for a little occasional flail-tkrashing would be convenient. 
The fuel-house should be close to the engine-room, and accessible 
to carts. If sawing by steam is to be done, the carpenter's shop 
should be near the engine-room. The waggon and cart-shed shotdd 
be near the horse-boxes, so that the animals may pass at once into 
their lodgings when out from their waggons. For a similar reason 
the implement-shed should also be near the horse-department. The 
sheep-house should be connected with an open yard ; and it should 
be little more than an open shed, as no animal suffers more than 
sheep fi'om heat and overcrowding. The piggeries should consist 
of breeding-boxes, and boxes for store-pigs and fatting-pigs. Pigs 
are very apt to overlay their young. To prevent this a batten 
should be placed round the breeding-boxes, about 9 inches off the 
wall and the ground. No animal pays better for the comfort and 
warmth given him, and these points should be considered in his 
domicile. 
Having thus considered the general arrangement and accommo- 
dation needed for the stock, he would proceed next to consider the 
most economical and durable mode of construction. The locality 
must determine in many cases the materials to be employed ; and 
this would also to some extent regulate the method of construction. 
The corn and hay-stores, the engine-room, and the granary would 
be the only parts requiring thick walls, whether of brick or stone, 
and heavy timbers. The box-system being a multiplication of 
similar parts, it is advisable, as a principle, to construct the boxes 
with details of simple form, of small scantlings, and few in kind, 
so that they can be easily put together, and easily i-eplacod when 
damaged, while capable of extension or alteration, and shift in use 
— points of imj^ortance — for which the box-system offered great 
facilities, which the design now exhibited attempts to embody. 
Mr. Elliot then referred to the plans and sections before him, 
