190 
Farm-Buildings. 
of  alteration  possessed  by  the  prize  plan,  without  destroying  its 
leading  features  ; the  same  may,  to  a great  extent,  be  said  of  the 
commended  plan.  There  are,  however,  some  points  in  the  latter 
(perhaps  it  should  be  said  in  all  the  plans)  which  are  not  approved 
by  the  judges,  and  as  it  is  an  invidious  course  to  point  out  faults 
in  plans  which  contain  so  much  that  is  worthy  of  praise,  the  same 
end  will  probably  be  attained  in  a more  agreeable  way  to  all 
parties  by  stating  in  general  terms  what  the  judges  think  ought  to 
be  provided  in  a plan  of  farm-buildings,  leaving  the  reader  to 
make  the  application  for  himself. 
In  general  terms,  then,  the  main  objects  contemplated  in  making 
farm  buildings  are,  1st.  To  make  convenient  arrangements  for 
thrashing  and  preparing  for  market  the  grain  crops. 
2nd.  To  provide  accommodation  for  the  live  stock. 
On  the  first  head  little  need  be  said ; the  position  of  the  straw- 
barn  has  already  been  spoken  of,  and  provided  that  the  corn-barn 
be  conveniently  arranged  and  proper  facilities  afforded  for  the 
employment  of  either  steam  or  horse  power,  the  designer  of  the 
plan  will  have  done  his  part;  the  rest  will  depend  on  the  judg- 
ment of  the  occupier  in  selecting  his  thrashing-machine  and  other 
barn  implements. 
The  accommodation  for  stock  is  a much  more  difficult  subject, 
and  in  a brief  sketch  of  what  is  required  it  will  be  necessary  to 
keep  constantly  in  mind,  that  in  the  housing  of  live  stock  and  the 
preparation  of  their  food,  the  first  object  should  be  to  enable  the 
animals  to  derive  the  greatest  possible  benefit  from  their  food,  and 
the  second,  to  preserve  the  manure  from  oteterioration  or  waste. 
The  food  annually  consumed  on  every  farm  by  the  horses  and 
other  live  stock  would,  if  its  money  value  were  stated,  amount  to 
such  a sum  as  to  impress  every  farmer  with  the  importance  of 
economizing  its  use;  and  the  difference  between  the  value  of  a 
substance  for  feeding  purposes  and  its  value  when  in  a state  in 
which  it  can  only  be  used  as  manure,  is  so  considerable,  that  it  is 
very  bad  policy  to  be  lavish  in  the  supply  of  food  because  what  is 
left  or  wasted  makes  capital  manure.  The  value  of  linseed-cake 
for  manure  is  (as  far  as  can  be  ascertained)  about  the  same  as  that 
of  rape-cake  ; but  the  former  has  an  additional  * value  for  feeding, 
which  makes  it  about  50  or  60  per  cent,  dearer  than  the  latter ; 
any  linseed-cake,  however,  which  is  not  digested  by  the  animal, 
and  remains  in  the  manure,  is  worth  no  more  than  an  equal  quan- 
tity of  rape-cake,  or,  in  other  words,  it  has  lost  more  than  one- 
* I continue  to  find  that  for  sheep  rape-cake  is  of  equal  value  in  feeding  with  lin- 
seed-cake. Those  who  try  it,  however,  should  be  cautioned,  that  sometimes  a sample 
of  rape-cake  occurs  which  sheep  do  not  like.  It  is  yellow  and  hot.  Old  rape-cake 
they  will  eat  as  well  as  linseed-cake.  Cattle  will  only  eat  rape-cake  mixed  half  and 
half  with  linseed-cake. — Pn.  Pusey. 
