546 
Bcport on the Fa/rm Prize Competition in 
thing is in it. The Judges were repeatedly assured that no 
departure of any kind from ordinary custom had been made for 
their visit, and they had no difficulty in believing it. But the 
great feature of the farm buildings is undoubtedly the two 
covered yards — or rather semi-covered, for Mr. Machin thinks 
the stock are more healthy when not quite roofed in, and there 
is more facility for carting in their litter. The roofs to the 
yards are of a new design, at least to the Judges, but the first of 
them was put up, it seems, some fourteen years ago, and has 
stood well. They are now spreading with great rapidity over 
Notts and Lincoln, as we had the opportunity of seeing. The 
chief merits claimed for them are cheapness and superior venti- 
lation. The roofing is entii'ely of wood, ^-inch deal being used 
as a covering, each board of which is nailed from ridge to eaves, 
but leaving, oddly enough, a small space between each of them 
of ^ to ^ of an inch, which widens in dry weather to at least 
^ an inch. The boards are grooved at each upper edge to 
make small gutters to carry off the rain, and very little indeed 
of it comes inside, because, it is said, of an upward draught, 
which drives the water into the grooves, unless the fall is ex- 
ceedingly heavy. The wood is never tarred or otherwise pre- 
served from the effects of the weather, first, it was said, because 
it does not want it, and secondly because it would interfere 
with the free flow of the water. The suggestion by the writer 
of a creosote bath for the boards was rather strongly approved 
in one or two cases. 
Mr. Machin's yards were covered by contract at 2s. 8d. per 
square yard of them — not of the roof. The price does not 
include supporting fronts, which are not necessary unless the 
space is too wide for a single span. At the figure given, which 
could probably be reduced in many cases, the saving in straw, 
in warmth and comfort to the bullocks, in labour — for half the 
quantity of straw carted in and out is. certainly of more value 
than double the quantity of washed-out manure would be — 
should cover the cost in a very short time indeed. As the 
design is probably a novel one to most farmers, and may be 
considered worthy of imitation by tenants as well as landlords, 
details are given in the woodcuts on page 547. 
Wooden posts for supporting- the shedding are shown in Fig. l,and must 
obviously be employed at the junction of eaves where a double span is neces- 
sitated. But where the width of yard can be bridged by a single span, 
sufficient support can often be obtained without the posts by junction with 
existing buildings. 
Fig. '2 h a, section of a roofing board to show grooved gutters, the 
boards to be affixed -^^ to J in. apart. 
One long nail (Fig. 3), which fastens the board to the perling, is used to 
every hob-nail, and is driven through as closely as possible to it. 
