Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/282

252] F A R th.it these, proportions subsisted in England aboul 80 years since, but are now greatly altered; for in- stance, an acre ofland then rented at 20«. per annum, pays at present from 21. to 3l. ; and the price of manual labour is raised nearly in a similar proportion. According to the modem im- proved state of agriculture, the espence of cultivating a farm of 1G00 acres, consisting partly of pasture, arable, meadow, and other land (the annual rent of which is, by Mr. Macro, of Barrow, Suf- folk, stated to be 4151.) amounted in the year l/80 to 22081. 2s. and fjd. — In order to balance this ex- penditure, the profits of a farm should be about/fye times the an- nual rent : and, if the combina- tions of engrossers be suffered to proceed with impunity, they will, no doubt, in a short time, amount to six or seven times the value of the rent actually paid. FARM-HOUSE, in rural eco- nomy, is applied particularly to the dwelling occupied by a farmer. T e principal objects to be at- tended to in erecting farm-houses are, convenience, and a salubrious situation; points highly important to every inhabitant of the country, as the health and w< lfare of all, in a g eat measure, depend on the choice of the latter. Beside the general salubrity of the spot where dwellings are to be erected, the air, water, and sail, also require to be particularly attended to; the :■ st should be pure and temperate 3 the second, wholesome and easily obtained 3 and the soil, rich. Tiie most healthy place of the farm ought to be sel< etc d for build- ing the house, which should be exposed neither to the summer FAR heats, nor to die rage of winds and storms during winter. Many parts of this country abound with rivu- lets and streams, which, however, are seldom attended to, though a judicious choice, in this respect, is of the utmost consequence. A quick flowing stream, that has a clean channel and dry banks, will considerably add to the beauty and healthiness of the place ; but, if the water be over-run with weeds, or other strong grass, such a situation should be car fully avoided ; for, as it affords a secure shelter to every kind of putrid tilth, noxious vapours will arise, and produce , very injurious to health. li, nevertheless, such places must unavoidably be chosen, a northern aspect is preferable to a southerly one; for, as the north winds blow briskly than those from the south, the air is in general cool, putrefaction is checked, and there will not only rise fewer vapours, but in consequence of the great* density of the air, they will be speedily dissipated. Respecting the construction of farm-houses, we have little to add. Instead, however, of thatching them, it would be highly desirable that they should be uniformly co- . 1 (1 with slate, or tiles, in all situations where these materials can be procured. But, where nei- ther slate nor tiles can be had, we recommend the covering, both of farm and out-houses, with heath oi- ling : either, when well laid on, is preferable to straw ; and at the same time so cheap, that in any country adjoining to heath-moors, it may be procured for the mere •labour of cutting and carrying it to the premises. 1 hiving already, in former parts of this work, communicated ava- liety