216 
On  the  Construction  of  Farm- Buildings. 
chance  into  the  places  they  occupy?  Much  as  frequency  of 
absolute  defect  in  the  matter  spoken  of  may  excite  wonder,  it  is 
still  more  remarkable  how  very  seldom  a farmery  is  to  be  seen  in 
any  degree  deserving  of  the  epithet  of  complete. 
The  observations  just  made  will  apply  in  some,  though  per- 
haps not  in  an  equal,  degree  to  modern  erections  as  well  as  to 
buildings  of  a date  anterior  to  the  existence  of  the  improved 
practice  of  agriculture  which  now  prevails.  The  almost  constant 
blundering  alluded  to  seems  to  arise  from  one  or  other  of  two 
causes,  and  frequently  from  a combination  of  both : — either  from 
want  of  an  exact  knowledge  of  the  uses  of  the  different  buildings 
of  a farmery  by  the  designer,  or  from  want  of  a sufficiently  com- 
prehensive plan  of  arrangement  with  a view  to  extension  that 
may  be  required  at  some  period  future  to  the  time  at  which  the 
design  was  originally  made.  The  latter-mentioned,  being  a fre- 
quent cause  of  defect  in  farm-buildings,  and  leading  to  very  con- 
siderable inconvenience,  will  be  further  treated  of  hereinafter  when 
the  arrangement  of  farm-buildings  comes  under  consideration. 
Having  in  the  foregoing  observations  taken  a general  view  of 
the  importance  of  sufficient  and  properly  arranged  buildings  in 
the  successful  cultivation  of  the  soil,  the  various  circumstances 
requiring  strict  attention,  and  most  careful  consideration  in  de- 
signing agricultural  offices  with  a view  to  completeness  for  their 
purposes,  will  next  be  severally  treated  of  previously  to  submit- 
ting plans,  elevations,  and  estimates,  according  to  the  require- 
ments of  the  thesis  proposed  for  competition. 
Of  the  Choice  of  Situation. — The  site  of  a farmery  should  be, 
as  nearly  as  circumstances  will  admit,  in  the  centre  of  the  ground 
with  which  it  is  intended  to  be  occupied  ; it  should  moreover  be 
tolerably  level  throughout  the  extent  of  the  principal  buildings, 
easy  of  access,  dry,  elevated  above  and  removed  from  the  imme- 
diate vicinity  of  marshes,  lakes,  and  sluggish  rivers,  sheltered 
from  prevailing  winds  by  higher  ground,  and  have  a plentilul 
and  never-failing  supply  of  wholesome  water.  A combination 
of  these  advantages  constitutes  perfection  of  situation ; it  how- 
ever very  seldom  happens  that  a site  can  be  found  possessing  the 
whole  of  the  desiderata  mentioned ; then  that  having  the  most 
is  to  be  preferred,  bearing  in  mind,  however,  that  good  access 
and  healthiness  ought  never  to  be  sacrificed  for  obtaining  the 
other  advantages,  which,  in  most  cases,  may  be  supplied  at  a 
little  expense.  The  site,  for  instance,  if  not  thoroughly  dry  may- 
be made  so  by  undraining,  water  may  be  conveyed,  and  shelter 
may  be  provided  by  judicious  arrangement  of  the  buildings  with- 
out much  additional  outlay. 
Besides  shelter,  another  important  advantage  may  be  obtained 
by  a farmery  not  being  built  on  the  highest  point  on  the  farm. 
