On  the  Construction  of  Farm-Buildings. 
257 
occasion ; and  the  openings  at  the  east  end  to  be  furnished  with 
dressed  stone-heads  12  inches  deep.  Near  the  western  extremi- 
ties of  the  north  and  south  walls  should  be  openings  3 feet  square 
with  stone  heads  and  sills,  for  windows  to  be  furnished  with 
sliding-bar  shutters.  The  floors  of  the  passages  at  the  heads  of 
the  stalls  should  be  flagged,  and  that  of  the  spaces  between  the 
ranges  of  stalls  evenly  paved,  with  brick  drains  along  each  side  at 
the  bottoms  of  the  stalls  and  covered  with  channelled  stone  fur- 
nished with  grates.  The  floors  of  the  stalls  may  be  earth  beaten 
firm,  should  be  about  8 inches  above  the  channels  at  the  bottoms 
of  the  stalls,  and  supported  by  curbs  of  store.  Between  each 
stall  at  top  and  bottom  should  be  a pillar  of  Norway  timber 
6 inches  square  supporting  longitudinal  beams  of  the  same 
scantling,  on  which  the  tie-beams  of  the  principal  rafters  or 
couples  of  the  roof,  placed  directly  above  the  divisions  of  the 
stalls,  may  rest;  and  into  the  upright  pillars  the  divisions  of  the 
stalls,  formed  of  Norway  battens  constructed  in  the  same  manner 
as  recommended  for  the  divisions  of  the  stalls  of  the  stable,  but 
of  less  height  by  a foot  both  at  top  and  bottom,  may  be  framed. 
The  roof  may  have  a pitch  of  8 feet,  and  be  of  Norway  battens, 
the  couples  having  a crown  post  and  struts ; and  the  small  rafters 
and  purlines,  in  consequence  of  the  greater  span  of  the  roof, 
should  be  one-half  instead  of  one-third  the  breadth  of  batten 
recommended  for  the  buildings  previously  described.  Oxen 
generally,  and  especially  cows,  are  liable  to  pulmonary  diseases  of 
a most  malignant  character,  very  frequently  produced  or  much 
aggravated  by,  impurity  of  the  atmosphere  of  the  places  in  which 
they  are  confined.  In  order  to  obtain  a free  circulation  of  fresh  air  in 
the  cowr-house  proposed,  it  is  suggested  that  there  be  three  glazed 
lights  in  cast-iron  pivot  frames  3 feet,  square  in  the  roof  above  the 
side  passages,  at  equal  distances  from  the  ends  of  the  building, 
and  between  each  other ; and  also  that  there  be  in  the  ridge  at 
the  mid-length  of  the  building,  a cupola,  at  least  4 feet  square,  of 
the  same  construction  as  those  previously  recommended  for  the 
stables  and  cattle-boxes. 
For  mangers  for  the  cow-house,  as  well  as  for  the  stable, 
nothing  can  be  more  suitable  for  the  purpose  than  cast-iron;  and 
as  moveable  troughs  2 feet  6 inches  long,  1 foot  6 inches  wide, 
and  1 foot  deep,  may  be  conveniently  used,  and  which  may  belong 
to  the  tenant,  such  fittings  do  not  require  notice  as  permanent 
accommodation  to  be  provided  by  the  proprietor  of  a farm. 
Of  the  Dairy  (for  plan,  vide  Plate  III.,  Nos.  4,  5,  6,  and  7). 
— The  business  of  the  dairy  being  usually  under  the  superintend- 
ance of  the  mistress  of  the  farm-house,  the  offices  required  for 
that  branch  of  rural  economy  should  either  be  a portion  of,  or  be 
VOL.  xi.  s 
