Rudimentary Treatise on Agricultural Engineering

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1852 Excerpt: ...waste. But I fear we are running away to the question between landlord and tenant, and from the subject in hand, --viz., straw yards. In the modern steadings a large straw yard is thought unnecessary, small enclosed yards for different descriptions of stock being preferred. These yards should be all properly paved with some hard material, and sloped gradually towards the centre--here there should be an iron grating, and beneath it a cesspool and pipes to convey the liquid manure to the tank. When these yards are bounded by stables, byres, &c, a raised foot-path should run round them, protected from the muck by a curb, so that proper roadways may everywhere exist to give facility of communication between different buildings, which is a matter of the first importance. Straw or fold yards should always be, if possible, enclosed on the north, east, and west sides, and open towards the south; there should be no open places between buildings through which draughts might enter, and all wooden fences and gates should be made with flush-boards. An open shed should be built in the centre of the yard, if none exist at the sides, that the stock may have shelter from the rain if they choose to avail themselves of it, which they will generally be found ready enough to do. POULTRY HOUSE. When only a few fowls are kept that have the run of the straw yards, &c, no particular accommodation is required beyond a small apartment, furnished with a few boxes for the hens to lay in. But sometimes it is made part of the regular business, and a large stock of poultry of various kinds bred and fatted for market. In this case a proper building should be constructed, of ample dimensions, perfectly water tight, and inaccessible to foxes, cats, and other vermin. The place must be ...