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FARM-HOUSES AND OFFICES

General Remarks on the Size and Arrangement of Farm-Offices.

An intelligent gentleman farmer in East Lothian , (MrHepburn of SydserfF), strongly recommends a large areafor farm-offices, according to the improved system of Ber-wickshire and the Lothians. Nothing, he remarks, is moreinjudicious, than to have farm-buildings huddled together,round so small an area as from 60 to 70 feet. Where a farmcontains from 300 to 600 acres, the area should not be less thanfrom 150 to 200 feet square. If it should be found expen-sive to surround the square with buildings, a simple wall willafford shelter, till it be found convenient to improve thefarm-yard. From 1000 to 2000 yards of dung, with roadsround the offices, will require an area of these dimensions.In fact, none but a practical farmer, who has had a largecrop, and a number of cattle maintained during winter on hisfarm, and who has seen the farm-servants carelessly drivingcattle and carts in confined court-yards, can fully appreciatethe advantages of a large area. When dung is removed, itshould be carried to the field, instead of being thrown to an-other part of the yard, which is unnecessary labour.

The proper arrangement of farm offices, next to the con-struction, is of most essential consequence, for any blundercommitted in this respect can seldom be remedied withoutconsiderable trouble, inconvenience, and cxpence. Peculia-rities in the situation, such as a run of water for turning amill, declivity of ground, 8tc. will occasion a variety in thearrangement; but that set of offices only can be said to belaid out to the best advantage, where all are so placed as torequire the least possible labour in conducting the businessof the farm. Thus, the easy access from the stack-yard tothe barn, from the barn to the granary, and the accommoda-tion of loading carts on the one side ; the propinquity of thestraw-house to the feeding-houses, byres, straw-yards, &c.