34 
Agriculture of Berhsliire. 
It is not to be supposed from these remarks that the country is 
destitute of modern homesteads : several such have been built, 
within the last few years, for the use of the tenant-farmer, an 
instance of which may be seen on the property of J. C. Garth, Esq., 
of Haines Hill, near Twyford, who, in addition to the very compact 
and convenient covered homestall, with most perfect machinery, 
which he has erected on the farm in his own hands, has built, 
within the last few years, two homesteads of similar construction 
lor tenants, and has commenced a third. The cottages on this estate 
have also been greatly improved. Another very compact covered 
farmstead may be seen at General Dunn's, Inlease, near Hunger- 
ford. These, with many others, which I cannot here particu- 
larise, show that the spirit of improvement is abroad. 
Although the farmers of Berkshire may justly be proud of their 
ricks, so neatly made and beautifully trimmed, yet I should much 
rejoice to see them done away with, and rick-sheds adopted instead ; 
for if there is one improvement required more than another at the 
present time, I believe it to be this. Every practical farmer 
must be aware of the damage which ricks sustain in the summer 
b}' being left open and taking rain before they are thatched, 
— in many instances to an incalculable amount. The expense 
of thatching and trimming is of itself considerable, and this 
work comes too at a time when hands can ill be spared for the 
purpose. Moreover, a change of weather often occurs before the 
task is completed, and the ricks have to be covered up, or, in too 
many cases, left open to take damage. All this would be obviated 
by the substitution of the much-desired rick-sheds, such as are to 
be seen on the farm I have spoken of, belonging to R. Benyon, 
Esq., of Englefield. In all the modern homesteads there is a 
great disposition to do away with barns, but the farmers will be 
very loth to give them up and entail upon themselves the 
necessity of making an extra number of ricks, until something is 
introduced to take their place. Much more may be said on 
behalf of rick-sheds, such as the facilities they afford for thresh- 
ing, stacking straw, &c. Under this head the annual saving to 
the farmer would be quite equal to 3 per cent, on the outlay, 
without reckoning anything for the damage he now sustains. 
The only objection I have heard of as at all likely to be raised 
against them is, that they are liable to be infested with rats and 
mice. I do not think, however, that this objection can be main- 
tained, as such injury may easily be obviated by any one who 
will only tiike the trouble to seek a remedy. No one can have 
any excuse for his premises being stocked with these vermin. 1 
may be considered severe in my strictures on the preservers ot 
these, if I use an expression which I have often employed, — that 
rats and mice and slovenly people are generally found to be 
