Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-02-07
The farm aud fireside.
MAKE YOUR HOMES ATTRACTIVE.

In travelling over the State, and especially
in the country districts, one is astonlshed to
see so little attention paid to the architectu
+ raj treatment of the farmers home. As a
general thing, there is painful monotony of
style, and an utter disregard paid to natural
advantages that so often make home attract
i've and comfortable. 1t is not to be wonder
ed at, that farmers sons are 80 often discon-
tented, and leave their homes to lead city
life. Take the railroad train from any city,
and ride one hundred miles, and nine chan
ces out of ten you will not single farm
house that has any sort of attraction in its
architecture, nor the grounds near by orna-
mented by any of the evergreens, grasses
flowers or vines so easily grown, and which
impart to any place degree of refinement
and taste that is sure to arrest the eye OF
those who travel over our roads for pleasure,
and often searching for Southern home.
have been in many portions OF the State,
and I have seen farm houses located either in
the bottom or on the hill, and have seen ON
these same places some as beautiful sites as
one could ask for, surrounded with such nat
ural advantages. that it would afford study
for en- artist. Now why all this disregard for
comfort, for beauty, for convenience? | am
satisfied that did the rural population patron
ize more the publications and journals ofagri-
culture, that also treat of suburban and rural
architecture, the establishment of grounds,
and works of horticulture, many Of these des-
olate and dreary looking homes would soon get
dressing up that in three years the owner
would feel one thousand dollars better off,
There is nothing better calculated to ad.
vance the interests or value of place, than
having it's buildings and surroundings in
complete state of repair, and nothing so det.
rimental as to see the same house, barn,
fences and out-buildings, all dilapidated and
broken down, which at once speak of it's own
er as thriftless and unsuccessful farmer.
1t is not necessary that these attractions
and embellishments should be made by the
hand of an expert or artist. A Lighthouse,
made with neatness, built on proper site,
with neat fences, or hedges around the yard,
with vines climbing up the porches and ivies
up the stone chimneys, the we'll covered with
a rustic frame, together with many other SIM
liar things, 60 to refine the place-all Of which
can be executed by any man having 'o'H
and desire to promote the growth, interests
and attractiveness of his home.
On the contrary, we too often see farmers
homes with rail fences in front, partly down,
and likely his barns close to the road, also in
front-his implements for work all exposed
to the weather, to wear and rust out. instead
of being in a shop or tool house. No ever
green scarcely to relieve the glare of the sand
or the redness of the soil, and the grasses or
carpets of lawn are scarcely ever thought of.
Now all these things tend to lower the dig
nifty of the grandest calling man can engage
in. Make your homes attractive by keeping
up a neatness of style in all the surroundings
of the home, that it may not seem repulsiVe,
but inviting. Let the flowers and roses so
easily grown, adorn the front yard. Let your
barn and outbuildings be built in such
style, however plain, as will compare with
the house, and constructed so that when all
are built, they will show that there is method
in your design. If you wish to build a cot
tage, get some book on cottage architecture,
or if larger house is to be erected, get your
plans made by some competent architect 1t
would be Just as reasonable in cases OF sick.
ness to make your own prescriptions, or plead
your own cases before the courts, as to plan
and properly design your house.
l am satisfied from experience among our
people, that they do not read half enough.
There are newspapers, periodicals and jour.
nails, devoted to every branch of business, and
applicable to the family circle as we'll, in
which we can all learn much by reading.
". IT. p, in Southern Cultivator.
- - >---