IN SCOTLAND.
155
15. Straw-yards (or Courtines), Dung-pits, Sfc.
The area formed by the surrounding buildings containingthe farm-offices, is commonly allotted for the straw-yard,after a paved cart road is taken off to afford access to thedifferent offices. The yard is often divided into two ormore parts, for cattle of different ages and feeding, with opensheds to each, well sheltered, having troughs for water, andracks for fodder and turnip. These yards may be inclosedwith a rough stake paling ; but the best inclosure is a stoneand lime wall, with a gate to each, large enough to admitof carts to supply fodder, and remove the dung.
A space for receiving the dung from the stables, byres, &c.is sometimes taken off from the straw-yards, where it may bekept till convenient to remove it to the fields. Near thedunghill, two reservoirs for urine should be formed *, at adepth sufficient to admit of a declivity for draining it fromthe byres and feeding-houses. The insides of these reservoirs,after being coated with a thick layer of clay well puddled andbeat down, and after having their bottoms treated in the sameway, should be lined with stones, and the whole made perfect-ly tight.
Where the inequality of the ground will admit of it, a mostuseful and convenient receptacle for dung and urine may bemade under the byres, feeding-houses, or stables, where itmay remain till ripe for the field. This receptacle may bearched to support the floor of the offices above, and accessmay be had for carts from the lower side, the entry to thebyres, &c. being as usual from the court-yard f.