305 
On  the  Construction  of  Farm-Buildings. 
into  the  stable,  one  in  the  west  end,  and  placed  as  nearly  as  con- 
venient to  the  southern  wall,  and  one  opening  into  the  horse-yard 
at  a little  distance  from  the  east  end  of  the  stable.  The  manger 
and  rack  should  be  affixed  to  the  northern  wall,  and  by  this 
arrangement  the  keen  blasts  of  the  north  and  east  will  be  as 
far  as  possible  excluded,  a point  in  winter  of  no  small  con- 
sequence. The  floor  of  the  stable  is  too  often  laid  with  a very 
rapid  incline  from  underneath  the  manger  to  the  gutter  which 
carries  off  the  drainage  of  the  stable,  but  attention  has  lately 
been  drawn  to  the  impolicy  of  this  practice,  and  in  future 
it  is  recommended  that  no  greater  incline  be  made  than  is 
absolutely  necessary  ; and  if  the  floor  be  carefully  laid  this  will 
be  found  to  be  but  very  slight.  The  proposed  height  for  the 
stable  and  all  the  buildings  that  have  been  described  since  the 
barn,  is  8J  feet  from  the  set  off,  a height  which,  though  sufficient, 
will  not,  I think,  be  found  too  great.  I may  also  here  remark 
what  I have  I find  omitted,  that  the  floors  of  the  oil-cake  place, 
of  the  chaff-cutting  place,  of  the  chaff-house,  and  the  tool-place, 
may  be  all  advantageously  made  of  the  concrete  to  which  I have 
before  alluded. 
Before  describing  the  yards,  it  may  be  well  to  allude  to  the 
buildings  proceeding  in  a southerly  direction  from  the  principal 
range  marked  No.  9,  and  forming  the  east  and  west  wings  of  the 
homestead.  They  are  40  feet  in  length  by  15  feet  in  width, 
floored  with  concrete,  and  each  equally  divided  into  two  compart- 
ments with  doors  into  the  yards.  It  is  proposed  that  they  should 
be  used  as  loose  boxes  for  feeding  cattle,  and  if  two  be  allowed 
to  each  box,  room  will  be  afforded  for  eight  cattle,  which  mav  be 
placed  here  for  their  concluding  three  months  before  going  to 
market.  I am  aware  that  much  difference  of  opinion  prevails  as 
to  this  matter,  but  am  most  decidedly  of  opinion  that  when  in  a 
loose  box,  with  a moderate  degree  of  warmth,  and  perfect  shelter 
from  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  a bullock  is  in  the  most 
favourable  possible  position  for  the  production  of  beef.  Among 
those,  however,  who  do  not  think  with  me,  these  buildings  may 
be  used  for  other  purposes,  for  instance,  as  sheds  where  cattle 
may  be  tied  up,  or  as  pigsties.  My  object  is  to  show  that  the 
general  arrangement  proposed  is  the  most  convenient  possible, 
rather  than  to  pertinaciously  insist  upon  any  single  point  of 
detail. 
Having  thus,  by  the  erection  of  the  buildings  described,  ob- 
tained a large  oblong  court,  having  three  sides  enclosed  and  open 
to  the  south,  the  next  consideration  will  be  the  division  of  the 
yards,  and  the  provision  of  a convenient  amount  of  shelter  for  each 
of  them.  And  in  the  plan  proposed  advantage  is  taken  of  the 
southern  wall  of  the  long  range  of  buildings  already  described,  to 
VOL.  XI.  x 
