306 
On  the  Construction  of  Farm-Buildings. 
form  the  back  of  the  shed,  which  is  15  feet  in  width,  extends  the 
whole  length  of  the  range,  and  at  once  provides  shelter  for  all  the 
yards.  That  part  of  this  shed  which  adjoins  the  barn  may  be 
made  as  a lean-to  against  the  barn,  and  will  thereby  avoid  the 
inconvenience  of  having  a too  extended  double  roof.  The  division 
of  the  yards  is  a matter  which  may  be  left  very  much  to  the 
option  of  individuals.  In  the  plan  proposed  there  is  one  large 
horse-yard  (No.  10),  60  feet  by  40  feet,  which  will  of  course  be 
placed  adjoining  the  stable,  and  have  one  of  the  stable  doors 
opening  into  it.  Next  to  this  are  two  yards  (No.  11),  each  of 
them  40  feet  square,  which  may  contain  eight  or  ten  straw-yard 
cattle  each,  and  are  placed  conveniently  for  receiving  straw  from 
the  barn.  The  remaining  space,  90  feet  in  length,  is  divided  into 
three  yards  (No.  12)  of  equal  dimensions.  Those  cattle  which 
are  in  a somewhat  advanced  state,  and  consequently  require  high 
feeding,  may  be  placed  in  these  three  yards,  which  are  calculated 
to  accommodate  five  or  six  oxen  each,  according  to  size,  and  are 
placed  contiguous  to  the  oil-cake  place  (No.  3).  The  yards 
should  be  divided  by  walls  6 feet  high  from  the  foundation,  and 
should  have  gates  opening  to  the  south  for  the  carriage  of  manure 
from  the  yards.  Small  gates  between  them  should  also  be  pro- 
vided for  the  convenient  carriage  of  straw  or  food  for  the  cattle. 
The  south  wall  may  be  of  the  same  height  as  the  division- 
walls. 
The  whole  area  thus  provided  for  the  manufactory  of  manure, 
for  the  conversion  of  straw  into  a fertilizer  for  the  soil,  will  be 
found  to  be  in  the  straw-yards,  inclusive  of  that  part  which  is 
under  the  sheds,  about  9200  square  feet,  and  including  the  loose 
boxes  or  feeding  places  in  the  wings,  it  will  be  found  to  com- 
prise somewhat  more  than  10,000  square  feet,  which  will  be 
found  sufficient  for  a farm  of  the  size  proposed.  It  may  be 
observed  that  no  tanks  for  liquid  manure  are  provided,  but  if  all 
the  buildings  are,  as  they  should  be,  well  spouted,  there  will  be 
no  drainage  from  the  yards  to  require  them.  Indeed  it  is  only  in 
ill-constructed  farm-yards  that  anything  of  the  sort  is  wanted.  If, 
as  in  this  plan,  a good  proportion  of  each  yard  be  covered  with 
sheds,  and  those  sheds  be  spouted,  it  will  be  found  that  practically 
there  is  no  necessity  for  liquid  manure  tanks,  as  all  the  rain  that 
may  fall  into  the  yards  will  be  readily  absorbed.  That  the  build- 
ings should  be  spouted  is,  however,  absolutely  necessary,  both  for 
the  preservation  of  the  manure  from  injury,  for  the  prevention  of 
damp  in  the  walls  and  floors  generally,  and  for  the  collection  of 
water  in  summer,  which  may  be  obtained  in  considerable  quantity 
from  a large  extent  of  roofing,  during  a heavy  summer  thunder- 
shower. 
As  to  the  cost  of  constructing  a farm-homestead  upon  the  plan 
