The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-10-08
Economy in Farm Buildings.

Economy in Farm Buildings.
lChicago Tribune.l
The construction of farm buildings with
view to economy and convenience has
never received the attention in the West it
deserves. Most farm houses are modelled
after those found in villages and cities.
They are constructed more for show than
for real comfort The building of them in
many cases plunges the owner in debt,
which causes him anxiety and trouble
during many years, If it does not result in
his financial ruin. The ambition to have a
good house on farm Is a creditable one, but
its erection should be undertaken judi
ciously. In prairie country it is advisableito
place it, If possible, on an elevation so as to
insure a dry soil and good drainage for the
cellar. site that will command view of
the entire farm is very advisable, If a
farmer has but small means it will be better
for him TO erect a moderate sized building at
6Tst, with a view of making additions TO il
a his family and means increases 4 build
ing containing a spacions kitchen and living
room on the ground floor and sleeping
rooms on the second will afford good accom-.
pOdatiOns for a small family at little ex-
pense. It will serve as the extension OF
house to be erected in the future. 1t is Gus
tomary in cities and villages to have the ex-
tension to the house ia the rear of IL for
many reasons. The lot on which the build
ings are erected is generally long and mar.
row, and it is necessary to utilize the space
TO the best advantage. The house. accord
iDgly, stands with the end to the street,
while the portions used for laundry, cooking
and dining purposes are in the rear
nicaCanf viQu this nnrtion of tho hOr1aa
is regarded as q secondary consideration, as
it is generally occupied by domestics In
the country where the members OF a farm.
eT's family do most Of their own work, this
portion OF the house should be made as pleas.
ant as possible. IL should extend from one
side of the main building, and not from the
rear end of il. This will allow the windows
one side 20 command view of the street
and on the other view of the garden. 1t is
desirable 70 have this part of the house pro-
iect from the sunny side OF the main
building.
The kitchen in a. farmhouse should be
large, especially if it is TO be used as a laun-
dry and a room for canning fruit. It should
be supplied With water from cistern and
well, and should have passage leading to
the cellar. 1t is better in every respect to
have conveniences for doing washing in an
other building at some distance from the
family dwelling. 4 building sufficiently
large for a laundry can be built and fitted up
IL can be employed for q variety of purposes
besides washing and ironing. In summer it
can be used to good advantage in preparing
all the meals for the family. By doing the
cooking in another building the dwelling
may be kept cool and comparatively free
from insects. All such operations as trying
out lard, canning fruit, making preserves and
cutting up meat can be performed in this
building. The men employed on the farm
viii prefer to stay in this building during
rainy days TO being in the house or going to
the nearest town. II it is two stories high,
finished of in the upper story.
BY having building Of this
kind the dwelling can be kept in excellent
condition with little labor. Most of the ba d
odors caused by cooking may be avoided. So
will the steam produced by boiling clothes
In slavery days the cooking and washing on
southern farms were done in buildings occu.
pied By negroes and located some distance
from the family dwelling The advantages
of this arrangement were many, and the dis
advantages few. 1t was inconvenient to pass
from one building TO another when the
weather was unfavorable, out this objection
able feature of the arrangement may be
avoided by having covered walk connect
ing the two buildings. All housekeepers who
have had the advantage of q laundry outside
the dwelling are convinced that it save 5
much trouble In keeping the latter in good
condition.
Farmers generally follow very old fashions
IN the construction of barns. Although the
expense of them is great, they generally lay
tight floors OF thick plank across the entire
space covered by the building. A tight floor
IN barn was at one time essential, as all
kinds of grain were thrashed on it By means
of the hand-fiail- A floor is no longer wanted
for this purpose. In fact it is no longer es-
sential for any purpose, and with the in
creased price of lumber it is a question If it
can not be dispensed with without difficulty.
A feor may be made OF that will remain
answer every purpose of one made Of thick
plank, by placing layer OF straw on 1t a
good foundation is secured for hay. There is
no necessity for a plank floor in the middle
of the barn. The team and hay cart can rest
on clay floor as well as on one made of ex-
pensive plank. Plank floors for cattle horses
and hogs to stand on are not common in
countries where lumber is scarce aud they
may be dispensed with here. On the con-
tinent of Europe barn floors made of con-
crete or OF clay, to which little coal tar is
added, are very common. Many owners of
horses prefer to have them stand on a floor
made OF clay. IN Mexico the floors of hearty
al buildings are made of clay or of sand and
Line. With the present low price Of glass
there IS doubtless economy in having win
dows in barns. The Germans who settled
pennsylvania at an early day built barns
that were well lighted as the houses they
occupied. They brought the fashion from
the old country and it has been generally
followed by their descendants. The win.
dows in barns are favorable to ventilation as
well as for the admission of light; that sui-
mails thrive better in q well-lighted barn or
stable than in one that is dark, has been re.
peatedly demonstrated The time is not far
distant when IL will be regarded as extreme
cruelty to animals 10 confiue them in dark
buildings.
The construction of economical buildings
for sheep has received attention in this coun.
try. The Scotch, who are the best shepherds
IN the world. give excellent protection to
their sheep aud contrive to afford it at very
small expense. In many cases the tight
fence around the sheep yard answers for the
back wall of the shelter. The roof, which
projects considerable distance in front of