March 23. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
4? 5 
Farm-yard, for it enables the cattle to be fed and accom¬ 
modated, daring both summer and winter, under cover, 
thus enjoying the advantages of an equable and proper 
temperature, and at the same time a perfectly pure 
atmosphere, quite unknown to any other style of Farm- 
buildings. The manure also manufaeted by the cattle, 
when thus fed and lodged, must be of first-rate quality, 
there being no dilution by rain-water, nor any eva¬ 
poration by exposure to the sun and wind. The most 
appropriate plans which I have seen, for the erection of 
buildings of this description, are those set forth in the 
twenty-third number of the Journal of the Royal Agri¬ 
cultural Society of England, by Mr. Fisher Hobbs, and 
by LordKinnaird ; and it would appear, from their state¬ 
ments upon the subject, that a saving of ten per cent, 
in tho cost of erection is effected, as compared with 
former erections upon other principles ; and this may 
be easily conceived, wdien it is considered that the 
roofing and outer boundary of tho buildings are the 
most expensive part of the affair, the internal fittings 
being very simple and cheap, although very durable 
and effective; and it is in these internal barriers or 
divisions between the boxes, stalls, or cattle pounds, 
where tho economy is obtained, for in buildings of 
another principle*. the boundary walls or division of 
almost every compartment of the steadings involves 
the necessity of a wall, or fence, of a description ne¬ 
cessary to afford warmth or shelter to the animals. I 
am not, however, wedded to the opinions of other 
parties in this matter; for I believe that the practice, as 
set forth in connection with the buildings above referred 
to may be much improved, particularly in the manage¬ 
ment of the manure; for instance, it is stated that 
drains are constructed for the purpose of carrying off 
the liquid-manure from the stalls, boxes, or cattle courts; 
but in case the principle of bqx accommodation was 
carried out entirely through the whole concern, there 
would be no liquid to drain away, it would be all ab¬ 
sorbed by the earth placed at the bottom of the boxes, 
sties, &c. 
Now this brings me to an important point;—if box¬ 
feeding, wherein the manure is allowed to accumulate 
under the animals, is the best and most economical 
system, why not carry it out in all its entirety; for 
in a covered home-stall there is no lack of room, nor is 
there an opposing obstacle of any kind. At any rate, I 
contend, that every animal ought to be accommodated 
in such a manner that no liquid-manure could escape or 
require drainage, and that the cattle, whether fatting 
beast, or dairy Cows, as well as Rigs, are best provided 
with boxes which have earth at the bottom, and littered 
with straw as required. In the case of Sheep, when 
house-fed they may be kept upon spars, or open 
boarded floors, or, otherwise, in littered-yards. The 
Horses, also, may be allowed boxes upon the above- 
named principle; but in case these are objected to, as 
they are by some, although, I believe, without good 
grounds, they may be treated as described in the 
former part of this paper, by earth-floors to the stalls, 
which will absorb and render quite innoxious the 
liquid-manure. The system will then be carried out, 
and thus enable the whole of the animals upon the 
farm to be fed in a covered homestead, if required, 
with the full advantage of securing health and well- 
doiug for the stock, or breeding and working animals, 
and the further gain of obtaining the largest amount of 
meat in return for the food consumed; and at the same 
time securing the greatest possible amount of manure 
of the best quality, without detriment or risk to the 
health of the animals. 
I cannot leave this subject without alluding to the 
superior crops, both of roots and grain, which have 
been obtained by the application of dung made in 
covered home-stalls, as compared with those raised from 
manure made in an ordinary Farm-yard. This result, 
however, might have been anticipated and expected 
apart from actual experiment. 
In concluding this article, I beg to state, that I have ! 
adopted for several years the system of using earth at | 
the bottom of the yards, cow-stalls, pig-sties, &c., and i 
wherever manure has accumulated; and I have been 
often met with the question, “ Where do you obtain 
sufficient earth for the purpose ? ” my answer is, that 
it is part of my farm economy to provide it at all 
seasonable times, and take it from all parts of the farm 
where objectionable accumulations have occurred. 
I have seldom seen a farm where loose earth could not i 
be readily obtained, the only exception which I know of 
is upon high chalk or stone-brash soils, and even in these 
cases, considerable quantities of earth will accumulate 
upon the borders of fields, the removal of which would 
improve the fences. 
Upon farms in general, particularly in enclosed 
districts, large quantities of earthy materials are con- | 
stantly collecting under the hedges, and instead of j 
being burntiuto ashes, as is a common practice, they had j 
far better be removed, at leisure opportunities, to a heap 
where they would rot and become mellow, for the uses 
before-mentioned. I must further observe, that it is 
only necessary to make the use of this earth a part of 
our system of management, and we shalKneither want 
materials or time to collect it. Joseph Br.uxnEi.L. 
HAMBURGH FOWLS, AS RECENTLY 
EXHIBITED. 
The comb, ear-lobe, and colour ot the legs, being the 
main common properties connecting the Pencilled and 
' Spangled Hamburghs, while in several important points a 
marked distinction exists between them, it has occurred to 
us that these varieties would be better arranged if their 
“ markim/s ’’ rather than their “ colours ” always determined 
their classification. By such a system we should have 
Golden-pencilled and Silver-pencilled following each other, 
I and then the Spangled of those colours in their relative 
positions. 
That any relationship can be traced between the Spangled 
and Pencilled varieties will hardly, we think, be asserted, 
and it is certainly contradicted by the produce of these 
birds when crossed with each other failing to present any 
resemblance to the plumage of either parent, a bird of 
dingy indistinct colours being the usual result of such an 
alliance. The common properties already alluded to, and a 
desire to avoid the confusion of a host of synonyms, 
