The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-04-16
" II III DIR.
Farmsrs' Homes.

It is very often the practice with farmers
to think more Of the farm than of the farm
house. 1t is a time honored adage that
"Charity begins at home;" hence we think
few suggestions correlative to this senti-
ment may be profitable. There is feeling
of dissatisfaction with agricultural life among
the sons of farmers, leading them to dislike
the occupation and surroundings of their
fathers, aud to seek society and business
which their fancy paints to be more congo
NAL and less laborious.
Farming is hard work at the best; and
when it amounts to abject drudgery,-with
no sunshine in doors, aud the grateful cheer
of books, intelligent conversation, and en-
enlargement to the pronptings of latent am
bition, not to omit good food and pleasant
home, upon which the eye delights to rest,
it is no wonder that farmers sons and farm
ers daughters become FESTIVE, and long for
the time to come when they can throw off the
shackles of an unsatisfying servitude, and
90 to the factory, the store, or an overcrowd-
ed profession, where they can enjoy some
of the privileges they do not have at home.
he remedy for this is to make home pleas
and enjoyable. Do not enrich the soil
the field by impoverishing that of the
lsehold! Children must be pade to love
their homes, else the attraction of cities and
villages will surely lure them away from the
peaceful and monotonous labors of rural
life.
The surroundings of the farmers houses
can be made more comfortable. The selec-
ton of sites for the outbuildings required, is
second in Importance only to the selection
of site for the mansion. Convenience
dictates that these buildings should be as
near the house as is practically consistent
with their objects and character. The dwell
ing. house will, of course, occupy the best
and most advantageous position, and supe-
rior size aud style of architecture will always
be such as to render all other necessary
structures of secondary and subordinate ap.
pearance. Such buildings as stables and
ice houses are so obviously necessary to do
nestle comfort, that their presence is not
only expected, but their absence conveys
an impression of poverty or incompleteness,
altogether inconsistent with our ideas of what
country home should be.
Instead, therefore, of endeavoring entirely
to conceal these Offices by plantations and
by other expedients, as is frequently advised,
they should be located on the most eligible
sites, and display in their architectural de-
tails and ornaments, an expression of the
purpose for which they are intended, aud be
judlciously exposed to view without render
ing conspicuous the operation necessarily
connected with the structure.
The best location for these buildings will
be governed, to some extent, by local cir
cumstances but, where there are no grades,
views, or other exceptional features to inter
fere with the selection, point in a northern
direction from the house will combine the
greatest number of advantages.
While the stables and other farm buildings
should not be entirely hidden from view at
certain points, at the same time twill be OBJ
vious that due amount of privacy in and
about the buildings themselves, as we'll as in
line of view from the dwelling house, will be
essential, and can readily be effected by the
introduction of trees and shrubs at the points
indicated.
A nice house, with the roadside in front of
1.-THE favorite place of deposit for all the
broken and dilapidated crockery, tin ware
and debris of the farm, is common sight,
and presents a contrast which demonstrates
that the lady who presides within has no
proper appreciation of the fitness of things.
Everybody likes the sweets of neatness, and
the home is pleasanter if neat. A clear Gel
lar, airy and free from odors, is healthy.
A house on a hill. with no trees around it,
looks cherries and unhomelike. Have
grounds around the dwelling. Tear away
the fenceS,-they cost money and are use
less. [ mean the fences shutting the house
up as if there were danger of its running
away. Let there be not less than an acre of
of door yard, if possible. Make rich lawn
of this, and cut the grass. 1t can be no
waste, but thing of beauty,-and "a thing
of beauty is a JOY forever" There need be
no loss to be tasteful Nature and beauty
are synonymous. Good taste and good
economy can therefore be made landmarks
to each other.