Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/566

 542 COTTAGE, FARM, AND VILLA ARCHITECTURE. easily covered over with dung ; and if, at any time, the dung is found too dry, movable spouts may be attached to the pump which is placed in the tank, by which means the liquid manure can be regularly spread over the whole straw-yard. A waste drain extends from the tank to an open ditch in front of the steading ; by which means the liquid manure in the tank, if neglected, is carried off when it rises to that level, and is thus prevented from injuring the drains. 1 142. The Cattle-sheds, from their situation, face the south, which is of great advantage to the cattle, though often overlot)ked in laying out farm buildings ; and they are divided in the centre by a passage adjoining the turnip-shed, and opposite the straw-house. This passage rises like an inclined plane, 4 feet from A to B, the side walls or parapets being built up to that height, and forms a fence to both yards. All the dung from the feeding-byre and stable is wheeled into the straw-yards by this passage ; which, from its central situation, admits of the stable dung being equally distributed through both yards, and this by the rising passage can be done without opening a door, which prevents the one class of cattle from intermingling with the other, or getting out Straw-racks are placed in the sheds ; but, by also having them in the centre of the yard, and connected with this passage, they can be conveniently filled, and the cattle are induced to divide, which mixes the dung more generally through the yards. The racks on the extremities of the passage are understood to be movable, and can be laid aside when carting out the dung. The piggeries, from their situation, may be conveniently supplied from the kitchen or boiling-house, and are in both yards. Pigs are very beneficial to the dung, from their turning it over and mixing it : they also eat up any particles of corn among the horses' dung that may not be digested. One small enclosure is provided in each yard, with a trough for feeding young pigs ; thus protecting them from the cattle while eating : but they have no house or sty, which induces them to go out among the cattle, and to lie about the sheds. By this arrangement they have healthy exercise, enabling them at the same time to provide a part of their food, and be beneficial to the dung in both yards. Other two sties ai-e provided for putting up two pair to feed. The gates to the straw- yard may cither be of the common form, or be hung with stout ropes, puUeys, and weights. This last is perhaps the best plan, as it secures them from the risk of damage when the dung is being carted out of the yard, and they can be also raised as the straw in the yard rises. 1143. The Cistern-house is of such a height that pipes may be taken from it to the dwelling-house, boiling-house, calf-ward, &o. It may be either supplied from a fountain, if one can be found in the neighbourhood ; or a well may be dug, and a pump placed within the cistern-house. A water-trough is placed in the division wall between the straw-yards ; and a ball-cock is fixed in the centre of the said trough, and shut in by boarding, overlapped by the upper part of the wall, protecting it from injury from the cattle. The cock opens and increases running as the water falls low in the trough, and when the trough is full, the floating ball shuts the pipe. By this self-acting supply, the cattle at all times have the command of water, and none of it is wasted ; if supplied from a fountain no attention is necessary, as the cistern will also shut itself in like manner, and the overflow, if any, will go off at the fountain head. Two troughs are placed on the outside for the horses, or the milch cows, and supplied with ball-cocks in the same manner. 1 1 44. The Roof Water, in the inside of the court, is carried round with eave spouts, and with rain-water pipes at the south extremities leading it into drains. It is a material object to carry off the roof water without allowing its admixture with the manure in the courts. 1 1 45. The DweUing-hotise consists of the following apartments ; viz. upon the ground floor two parlours, a bed-room, kitchen, servants' bed-closet, dairy, scullery or wash- house, with a small cellar, which may be got under the stair, and a coal-house. The upjier floor consists of four bed-rooms and a servants' bed-room ; but, in cases where more bed-rooms are rccjuired, an additional attic room could be got over the wash- house, having access from the same stair. The upper rooms go partly into the roof. 1146. Estimate, — Mason's Work. £ s. d. 54 roods of rubble building, at 30s 351: 0:0 810 feet of rybats, soles, and lintels, at Is 40 : 10 : O S02 feet superficial of hammer-dressed pillars in cart-sheds, at 4rf. ... 5 : 4:0 fiO feet lineal of cart-shed arches, hammer-dressed, at Is. 6d. 4 : 10 : O 98 feet lineal of cattle-shed ditto, at 2s 9 : 16 : O 52 feet lineal of squares droved, at Is 2 : 12:0 378 yards ot causeway in stables and byres, at Is 18 : 18 : O 476 feet superficial of flag division at cattle's head, at 8d 15 : 17 : 4 J147. Wright's and Slater's Work. 1589 yards of wood roofing, at 5s. S^ 417 : 10 : O