Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/508

 484! COTTAGE, FARM, AND VILLA ARCHITECTURE. also seem large ; but the advantage of having occasionally, or rather always, a store of dry straw is great ; and in a large straw-house the different kinds for the keeping or feeding of cattle may be kept separate without inconvenience. The hammels, as well as the other cattle-houses, it will be seen, are so situated as to be supplied with straw from the straw-house with the least possible labour ; they are also all made to front the south ; as that aspect, in Northumberland, offers so much more warmth and comfort to the animals, as to render the food given much more effective in fattening them than it would be in houses facing the north, or even the east or west. The cattle wing is placed on the west side of the quadrangle, near the dwelling-house, as being more convenient for the cows and calves ; and the stables are placed near the centre, with hay-houses, 7 7, at their farther end, to which access may be had through large folding doors in the straw- house. The hay, may, therefore, be carried to the feeding stock dry, and may l)e lodged under lock and key, and given into the charge of a fodderman ; under which circumstances, it is considered much less liable to waste ; the expense of lofting the stables is also saved, and the stables are thus rendered more healthy for the horses. As a long range of buildings fronting the south might be exposed to a sweep of wind from the east or west, the stables arc carried up close to the fodder-house, for the purpose of breaking such a current, and of rendering the folds more sheltered, particularly the middle one ; which, on this account, and from its being the most convenient for receiving the stable litter, is particularly eligible for the yearling cattle (stirks), which the Northumbrian farmers think are less liable to the quarter ill, when allowed to eat the refuse hay and litter from the horses, of which they are very fond. The feeding cattle are now generally fed in sheds opening into a loose yard, three, five, and sometimes more, being placed together, with the exception, occasionally, of old cows, which are usually tied up ; for these there is a feeding-byre, 20, in the east wing, which, however, may also be converted into a feeding- hammel. Botli a turnip-house, 19, and a turnip-yard, 37, are given ; the first is princi- pally useful during winter frosts, though excellent beeves may be fed with turnips which have been stored in the open yard, when they have been well covered with straw. The cart-shed, which more farmers consider necessary than can boast of having, is placed near the stables, and fronting the north ; that being considered the best aspect for presering those implements. The tool-house is also near, and the remainder of this range to the west may be considered most conveniently situated. The dwelling-house is placed a little in advance of the west wing, and is as near the farm-yard as it well can be, without being subjected to its nuisances. The dairy is shown rather detached, because it is better at some distance from the heat of the kitchen ; and its window is to the north, as that is requisite for preserving the milk sweet during the hot weather of summer. The cottages are to the east of the south range ; and if built like Mr. Bardwell's, § 477, fig. 423, with sleeping apartments above, they will be of sufficient size. They are better placed together than detached, as, by their vicinity to each other, a dishonest servant is prevented from pilfering, from the fear of being detected and exposed by his neighbours. Their cow-houses, and the blacksmith's shop, are placed on the east, to complete the quadrangle, where also other conveniences may be added, if thought necessary. The wash-house, 22, at the west end, is intended either to boil horse or cow food ; or where many harvesters (reapers) are employed and fed, it may be used as a cooking-house." We value this plan highly, knowing the competency of its author. We are gratified to observe that the cottages for the labourers are proposed to be formed, like Mr. Bardwell's, with one large room and two closets on the ground floor, and two bed-rooms over. The worst point about the Northumbrian farmeries, as well as those of Scotland, is the boothies, or little booths, for the single men, and the houses of one room for the married servants. Design XIX. — A Farmery for Five Ploughs, with Cows, Cattle, and other Stock in Proportion, suitable for the Northumbrian Husbandrij. 973. Accommodation. No farm house is here shown, but merely the offices of the farmery ; the general appearance of which is exhibited in fig. 968, and the ground plan in fig. 969. The latter contains the barn bay for unthreshed corn, y ; the bay for threshed corny z ; the machinery, c ; and the straw-house, d : the stable, e, has separate stalls for ten horses ; and connected with it is a hay-house, f. There are a tool-house, g ; straw- yards, and hammels, /(, /, k, I ; calf-house, m ; stable for a loose horse, n ; cow-houses, o, p ; hackney stable, q ; and four feeding-hammels, with yards, r, s. There are a vacant house for an hospital, and for various other puqioses, t ; a cart-shed, u ; turnip-house, V ; a common yard, w ; and riek-yard, x. There are pumps for supplying water, at da' ; and upright racks along the divisions between the fold-yards, at b' b', &c. 974. Remarks. On this Design, which has been sent us by the same experienced agriculturist as the preceding one, its author thus remarks : — " No dwelling-house or cottages are attached, nor a blacksmitli's nor carpenter's shop ; because these may be added