48

PLANS OF EXISTING STEADINGS

261. The scale of this steading, in Plate XVI., is in the proportion of •§ of aninch to the foot.

262. It will at once he observed that the plan of this steading is not in con-formity with the principle we have laid down (par. 32). The straw-barn a,at one of the corners of the quadrangle, is at a great distance from the cattle-courts y and feeding-boxes p. To obviate this inconvenience, a straw-stack isbuilt on the space between the cattle-courts y and the feeding-boxes p. Thequadrangular form is objectionable in a small steading ; but in a large onesuch as this, covering an area of two acres, it is not so objectionable, inasmuchas the sun shines freely into its centre into the cattle-courts. Had the thrash-ing-machine been placed in the centre of the quadrangle, the straw wouldhave been conveniently situated for all the courts, feeding-boxes, and stables.This objection is freely admitted by the tenant, and he would have preferred thestackyard on the rising ground to the west of the steading, instead of the lowground to the east; but a serious obstacle presented itself in a quicksand under-ground, through which the back lade from the mill-wheel had to be built ;and rather than expend a large sum in overcoming such a difficulty, it wasdeemed expedient to suffer the present inconvenience. Both water and steampower are employed here. The stackyard covers about two acres of ground.Where the sun lias free admittance in winter, the quadrangular form has theadvantage of having all the premises locked in by one gate at a'.

263. We think we have now given abundant examples of steadings both inScotland and England, as also remarks to illustrate the principles we wishto maintain. It may be advisable, however, before concluding this part ofour work, to give an illustration of how an old and inconvenient steading maybe altered into a new and convenient one, and this wo are enabled to do by thekindness of a friend.

264. Description op the Steading at Inverquiiarity, in Forfarshire, belong-ing to the Trustees of the late Charles Lyell , Esq. of Kinnordy, with the Alterationsand Additions. Plate XVII. contains all the particulars connected with thealterations and additions effected on this steading. Fig. 1 contains the ground-plan of the new and old parts of the steading, the open outlines showing theold, and the shaded lines the new, parts of the steading. Fig. 2 is a roof-planof the entire steading as amended. Fig. 3 is a south elevation of the steadingas amended, the plain part showing the old, and the stippled part the new, por-tion of the steading. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the finished buildings, indi-cated by the horizontal line A B in fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical section at thevertical line C D in fig. 1. And fig. 6 is a vertical section at the vertical lineE F in fig. 1.

265. In fig. 1, Plate XVIT., in the central range are : a the corn-barn, 15 feetby 33, with a door and window in front; h chaff-house, 7 feet by 28, with adoor into the straw-barn; c straw-barn, 22 feet by 51, with two doors oppositenear the mill; d implement-house and guano-store, 12 feet by 22, with a largegate to the front.

266. In the right wing are these apartments : e cart-shed, 19 feet by 58, withfive port-holes ; / hay-house, 18 feet by 19, with a door in front, and an internalone to the cart-horse stable; g cart-horse stable, 18 feet by 65, of eleven stalls,with a door and window at the back, a window into the cattle-court Jc, and twosky-lights in the roof; h loose-box, 18 feet by 10, with a door in front; i cattle-shed, 18 feet by 23, furnished with a feeding-trough and a turnip-shed ; k cattle-