308  On  the  Construction  of  Farm- Buildings. 
itself  as  most  appropriate  to  the  plan  of  farm-buildings  that  I have 
proposed. 
In  submitting  a model  of  the  plan  here  proposed  to  several 
experienced  practical  farmers,  the  only  objection  that  has  been 
raised,  has  been  with  regard  to  the  two  roofs  which  meet  one 
another  between  the  points  v and  x and  y and  z.  It  has  been 
urged  that  snow  might  lodge  in  the  intervening  space,  and  at 
times  produce  great  inconvenience.  I have,  however,  observed 
that  railway-sheds  are  sometimes  constructed  with  two  roofs 
meeting,  and  have  heard  no  complaint  of  trouble  arising  from  the 
practice.  If  the  objection  be  felt  to  be  forcible,  a roof  maybe 
thrown  completely  over  both  the  stable,  cart-shed,  &c.,  and  the 
sheds  for  the  cattle-yard,  and  the  timber  used  need  not  be  much 
stouter,  as  the  support  of  the  wall  between  could  be  used. 
The  great  consideration  to  which  attention  has  been  paid  in 
this  plan,  is  the  arrangement  of  the  cattle-yards  in  the  most 
favourable  position.  The  theorists,  headed  by  Liebig  and  John- 
ston, tell  us  that  if  the  external  state  of  the  bullock  be  cold,  damp, 
and  cheerless,  a large  portion  of  the  food  consumed  is  required 
for  the  production  of  animal  heat.  They  have  also  demonstrated, 
by  clear  and  definite  reasoning,  that  every  motion  of  the  animal 
consumes  food  : and  the  practical  man  comes  to  the  same  con- 
clusions. He  finds  that  a yard  of  cattle,  unsheltered  from  the 
northern  storms,  sheltered  from  the  southern  sun,  lying  in  a cold 
and  wet  yard,  never  fattens  rapidly.  He  sees,  on  the  contrary, 
that  when  cattle  are  warm  and  sheltered,  well  protected  from 
disturbance,  they  rapidly  increase  in  size  and  value.  And  it  is 
believed  that,  while  attention  has  been  principally  directed  to  this 
subject,  the  other  parts  of  the  building  have  been  placed  in  their 
most  appropriate  position.  Thus  the  barn  is  conveniently 
situated  for  the  delivery  of  straw,  is  near  every  part  of  the  yards, 
but  nearest  to  those  yards  which  contain  the  younger  or  the  grow- 
ing stock,  which  may  be  supposed  to  consume  the  straw.  The 
granary  adjoins  the  barn,  and  can  with  little  trouble  be  filled  with 
corn  when  prepared  for  storing;  the  oil-cake  place  adjoins  those 
yards  which  contain  the  feeding  cattle  ; the  cart-shed  being  open  to 
the  north  will  preserve  the  carts  from  the  scorching  rays  of  the 
sun,  and  the  chaff-houses,  stable,  and  horse-yard,  are  contiguous. 
In  conclusion  I may  remark,  that  I would  most  readily 
acknowledge  that  many  of  the  details  that  I have  given  may  be 
probably  improved.  But  that  circumstance  does  not  affect  the 
general  plan ; and  I wish  this  to  be  regarded  as  an  attempt  to 
establish  principles,  rather  than  details;  as  an  outline  to  be  filled 
at  pleasure,  rather  than  a finished  picture. 
