Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-01-14
AArtGultural.
From the Maine CltltiUatOr.
Farm Buildings,
-.


GENTLEMEN:-In traversing different parts of
our country notice wide difference between
the convenience of farm buildings. Some far
mers have their out-buildings placed in such a
position as will save great amount of labor;
while others seem to have consulted no rule, not
even taking fair day to determine which way
is south.
In our cold climate-cold and hot too if you
take it by wholesale, we have more need to be
studious and particular in this respect than they
have in the same latitude in Europe. Our cold
winter should be provided for and our hot sum-
mers should be thought of in the location of all
buildings on farm.
How dredry to see house or a barn facing
to the north or northwest. Such front is not
so pleasant, even in summer, as one that adj
ms freely the southwest breezes, that most pre-
vail at tina: season. And in the hottest days
you will find your south rooms cooler than your
north rooms, because you haze more free air
in hot day. When the wind is north you are
cool enough in any room in the house.
Some attention must be paid to the direction
of the highways; for a house or barn looks
extremely awkward with one corner projecting
towards the main road. And when farmer
owns on both sides he may always have his
buildings facing southerly or easterly. Either
of these points will be preferable to any other
A farm house should never be set on the peak
of mountain, or on any eminence that is not
easily climbed High land for dwelling houses
is more healthy than low land; and we would
not set even barn in bog, lest the mosquitoes
should take fancy to build in the same place.
1t is admitted, too that vaIlies are colder in
the night time than more elevated grounds; for
in the absence of the sun the coolest particles
of air, being heaviest, sink down lowest, and
you will see by the frosts, that are always most
severe on flat and low grounds.
Buildings may therefore be set on elevated
grounds, but such grounds should be readily ac'
cessible to all manner of vehicles, from the chase
down to the wheebarrow. The cost and troub
lie of hauling heavy articles, such as wood, veg
etabes, and water, up a steep hill to a house
is not often repaid by the beauty of a Landscape
that is purchased at an expense. Wells ar,
r not readily dug on knobs and eminences; AM
failure of water is most serious iucon
, venence, though it may last but two months il
the year.
Farm houses must have room enough for tn
. family to breathe in, to eat and to sleep in; ye
nothing looks worse than large shell of
= budng-too large to be painted, or even clap
boarded; and too open to need any regular win
! dows A dozen hats stuck into the sash are nc
> so good as six panes of glass. And it is nc
economical to have a-larger frame than you ca
protect from the weather. Men with but littI
- capital should be cautious and not build "to
. high" A house that is larger than the famiI
needs is a sad tax on the owner He sinks car
itaI in the first outIay-he pays annually Ia
- for surplus buiIding-he keeps in repair wh2t
of no use to him-and it costs him somethin
. daily to keep it swept and garnished
There are four distinct items of expense tn;
may be avoided by minding the rule that M
John Rogers taught his family to observe.
am to be here understood to speak to men c
" limited capital; not TO such as have great abur
dance.
J But the man of moderate means should nc
" indulge in extravagant building. He may hay
" a neat dwelling house for his family, and ne
-" count on making it a store house for his grair
or his wood. A wood-house should be attacl
- ed to his dwelling, but it needs no expenSiv
finish. In lumber country out houses ma
=, be made quite cheap. And it is better polio
- to make sleeping chamber in an out hou,
than to use the dwelling house for store room
A cellar should be as large as the house, for tn
e. is necessary to insure the house against rackin
by frosts,