Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-09-25
FARM MANAGEMENT.
Necessity Will Soon Cause Brick
To Be the Material for Build
ing Farm-Houses.
The Most Desirable Trees for Planting III
the Vicinity of Country Residences.
Brick Buildings on Farms.


that were well supplied with large tim
Der trees were built of logs. The logs
cost nothing except the expense of cut
ting and hauling, and they were goner-
ally drawn to the places when they
we're wanted on sleds over the snow.
Generally the old settlers made a bee
when stranger came among them for
the purpose of improving a place. and
assisted him in putting up house for
his family and barns for sheltering his
cattle and horses. These log houses
were comfortable. if they were not ele-
yant. II care was taken in securing
the ends Of the logs at the corners of
the buildings they were very subStan-
tial. A well-bult log house would last
fortflfty years and require scarcely any
repairs. When it was desirable to do
SO, and the owners means were suffi-
Gent. it could be lathed and plastered
on the inside, while the exterior could
I've covered with clapboards or shingles.
Many of the log houses in the New Eng
land states that were constructed in
colonial times, and placed on stone
foundations, are still in good state OF
preservation.
In the prairie regions of the west
ton Of log houses. Settlers who had
considerable means erected frame
buildings Others commenced their
frontier life in ''dug-outs," or in houses
made Of turf walls, which were covered
with thatoh. II they prospered in a
few years they erected buildings of
pine lumber Up to the present time
pine lumber has been the cheapest
building material that could be used on
the prairies. Beng light. it was easy
to transport lc distances. while it
could be draw, ger the poor country
roads with little difficulty. In the mat
Ter of cheapness of transportation it
had great advantages over brick and
stone. The rapid Improvement of
the prairie regions of the west has been
mainly dhIe TO the abundance and
chcapness of pine lumber. 1t is OBJ
yiOus, however, that a substitute for
lumber must soon be found for the
walls and roofs of farm buildings.
Lumber will in near future be very
costly building material. The demand
for it is increasing every year, and very
lit:le Is being done to increase the sup
ply. In n few years its cost will be so
great that it can only be sused for
tioOrs, windOw-frames, doors. and fin
ishing.
in 4 few favored locations stone will
I've extensively employed for construct
ing furm buildings. But the condition
Of prairie roads is such that stone can
not ordinarily be hauled long distances
There Is a similar difficulty in regard
10 hauling bricks from yards several
miles off. 1t is, however, practical TO
make good bricks on a large proportion
of western farms. Clay suitable for
making brick is very common. 1t NAV
need exposure to frost before it will
work easily. but il requires but little
extra labor TO dig it in the fall and al
low 1t to be exposed during the winter.
If it is nearly pure it will require loan
or sand to mix with it. but these can
ordinarily be obtained within reason
able distance of the deposit of clay.
The cost of preparing yard of suffi-
cient size TO dry enough brick to erect
farm buildings is not large where tho
surface Of the ground is nearly level.
The yard, when once prepared, can be
used for making brick to be used in the
construction of buildings on several
neighboring farms. IL there is no
stream or spring to supply water it can
be. obtained from a we'll that can be
subsequently used for supplying water
for stock. A driven we'll will often be
all that is required.
? 1.-The Igreat difficulty in making brick
90 most Of the western farms is the
lack of fuel for burning them. There
? is ne -woed ON the place, and it is ex-
pensive to buy and haul it. A farmer,
Z however, who has small temporary
buildings OF wood can raise the fuel for
burning a kiln of brick by the time he
gels ready To erect permanent build
ings on his place. By planting four
acres In white wood trees, placed four
ID feet apart, he will have in ten years
time enough fuel TO burn the brick he
will require 10 erect large and perma-
ne1t buildings. During this time he
can learn the art of brick-making by
working in yard and studying works
devoted to the subject. II he can SUI
perintend the making of the brick.
has the fuel for burning them as well
as tho clay. loan, or sand on his place,
he Gan erect buildings of brick cheaper
than from wood. and they will he far
more durable and satisfactory. In sew
sgal eastern and southern states the
matter of brick-making on farms is
receiving much attention. In some
places the owners of pug-mill. and
simple brick machines go from farm to
farm. and, taking their machines, su-
perintend the work of making and burn
ing the brick, the owner of the farm
furnishing the horses and the men for
doing the work.
In nearly every respect brick is the
most satisfactory material that can BE-
used for building purposes in city or
country. The climate OF most Of the west
cfri states Is very ntavorablc to the
preservation of wooden buildings In
essfcrn Massachusetts, notably in the
vicinity Of Cambridge. there are wood
en- buildings still in good state of
preservation. They were erected near
xlHtys hundred years. ago. - A wooden
slAld a. in most parts Of the west.
fiowcvtr, SC N begins to decay Il is
liable TO have an old appearance even
q when ills eoniparativei; new. IL re-
quires paint and oil TO preserve it, and
the fsiting of paint lasts but very
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