each other, or following in consecutive order, should be performed in immediate proximity; and the saving of all unnecessary labour, as well as the prompt and rapid execution of work, ought always to be kept prominently in view.
The position of the barn, the food-stores, and mixing floor, will generally be found the key to the whole range of farm buildings, as most of the labour at the homestead is connected with these departments.
It is usually found that farm buildings of moderate extent come together most conveniently in the form of three sides of a square or parallelogram. The space lying between the projecting sides is either roofed over or left as an open court.
Advantages of covered yards—It goes without saying that there is no homestead equal to a covered homestead. Any improvement in shelter for stock is equivalent to an actual shortening of winter. The average temperature of the bodies of our cattle is about 100°, or 40° higher than the ordinary temperature of the atmosphere. Hence there must be some provision in the animal body to sustain the heat, which is absolutely necessary for the performance of its functions. The air being so much colder than the body, must constantly draw from its heat and tend to lower its temperature. We all know that an animal exposed to more cold will eat more, and one better housed and warmer kept will eat less. The explanation is that warmth is an equivalent for food, and that, therefore, food may be economised by protecting cattle from cold. Too much stress cannot be put upon this point, and it does not apply merely to pure-bred stock, for in all cases it is absolute economy of food. It applies also to every age of stock. There is no fear of young animals
