206 
On  the  Construction  of  Farm- Buildings. 
cows,  is  a house  for  a bull,  n.  These  sheds  are  proposed  to  be 
run  up  of  the  cheapest  materials,  thatched,  and  the  back  made  of 
wattled  furze.  They  are  figured  in  the  isometrical  sketch  with 
lean-to  roofs  ; but  the  cheaper  plan  would  be  to  make  them 
ridged,  and  the  smaller  elevation  of  those  to  the  south  would  be 
an  advantage,  as  they  would  admit  more  sun  in  winter  to  the 
yards.  The  plan  of  building  with  cob-walls,  which  is  much 
practised  in  Devonshire,  as  a cheap  material,  where  the  walls  are 
of  a certain  height,  would  not  answer  so  well  for  low  buildings 
like  these  sheds,  as  the  substantial  stone  or  brick  foundation  on 
which  the  cob  must  rest  would  make  a low  piece  of  cob  expensive, 
though  its  durability  would  be  greater  than  the  wattled  furze  here 
proposed. 
In  conclusion,  we  beg  to  express  our  best  thanks  to  those 
gentlemen  who,  by  their  kindness  in  explaining  the  arrangements 
of  their  farm-buildings,  having  drawings  executed  for  us,  &c  , 
have  materially  assisted  us  in  the  composition  of  this  essay,  which, 
together  with  others  presented  to  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society, 
we  sincerely  hope  may  be  of  use  in  furnishing  useful  suggestions 
both  to  landlords  and  tenants  in  their  endeavours  to  meet  the 
ever-increasing  demands  on  the  productive  powers  of  the  soil  of 
England. 
SPECIFICATION  of  the  several  Works  required  to  be  done  in  the  erec- 
tion and  completion  of  a Farmstead  according  to  the  accompanying 
drawings. 
Excavator. 
To  dig  all  trenches  of  the  required  dimensions,  tanks  and  other  earth- 
work necessary;  to  ram  to  the  walls  as  the  works  proceed;  level  the  sur- 
face of  yards  and  unpaved  floors,  and  remove  to  a convenient  distance  all 
superfluous  earth  or  rubbish. 
Bricklayer. 
All  the  walls  coloured  red  upon  the  drawings  to  be  constructed  with 
good,  hard,  and  well-burnt  common  bricks,  laid  in  mortar  in  the  proportion 
of  3 to  1 ; good  lime  and  clean,  sharp  sand. 
The  water-tanks,  crown,  and  floor  to  be  arched  in  cement,  and  the 
inner  half-brick  of  sides  in  cement  also ; an  18-inch  man-hole  in  centre 
of  crown  to  each ; the  two  large  tanks  to  have  f-inch  tension,  bolts, 
plates,  nuts,  &c.,  complete.  All  retaining  and  division  walls  under  wood 
framing,  rails,  &c.,  between  stalls  or  to  sustain  passages,  to  be  9 inches 
thick,  the  upper  course  to  form  a coping,  laid  edgewise  in  cement ; sills 
of  the  same  to  doors  and  windows.  All  piers 
not  more  than  2 ft.  3 in.  by  1 ft.  6 in.  to  be  of 
brick,  above  ground,  upon  rubble  stone  foot- 
ings G inches  broader  each  way.  The  footings 
of  one  story  walls  to  be  G inches,  and  those  of 
two  story  9 inches  broader  than  the  superin- 
cumbent w'ork.  The  flues  to  be  lined  with 
a circular  tube  built  into  the  stonework  and 
qm 
mzmrz 
bricks  and  plastered  on 
