Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-22
FARM IMPROVEMENTS.
MANY THAT ARE NEEDED THAT WILL
COST LITTLE AND WILL ADD GREATLY
TO COMFORT AND TO VALUE OF PROP
ERTY.

we reau OF village Improvement So
cieties; why not societies for farm i'm
provement? The reference here would
be to improvement in buildings, fences,
water supply and roads near the farm,
as well as to soil improvement.
1t is very common in Central Penn
sylvania to see great number of out
buildings in all conditions of repair and
dilapidation, standing in every conceiv-
able position about the house and barn,
one of the best farms near this place no
less than eleven outbuildings can be
counted clustered about the house and
barn. Then, again, it is not uncommon
to see two or three garden plots, before
and behind the house, each with its own
fence more or less dilapidated. There
are sometimes two or three chicken
yards, one or more "runs" for pigs and
sheep, and possibly pen for cows, all
these placed so as to make the home
absolutely unsightly.
A letter received tonight from a
young Pennsylvania farmer who has
moved upon one of the cheap farms in
Massachusetts contains this text: II
mean to take down several old and un-
slightly sheds near the house, and to re-
construct them back of the barn for my
horses; also to paint and shingle part OF
the house. He further says: 81 mean
this year to make giant effort to get
out of debt" And he will do it, too.
There is no reason at all why these
outbuildings should not be consolidated
and placed in some neat order at the
rear of the house and barn. The in
closures, too, thOuld be at the rear, and
there should be fewer of them. If the
garden is little removed from the barn,
it will not need to be fenced against the
chickens, and if the chicken house is a
little distance from the residence, it
will not need any inclOsure. 1t is en-
tirely possible with little thought to
change ramshackle establishment into
one of neatness and order.
Good walks or paths between the nec-
essary buildings are as necessary and
important on the farm as in the city or
village. The women folks should be
able to 90 outside the door without get
ting their feet wet. And then, what is
expended ON walks may be saved in
doctors bills. The public road in front
of the house, and indeed, through the
farm, should be in first class condition.
1t should pay every owner of real estate
in the internal satisfaction he would feel
to have the road near his house in good
condition.
1t does not cost much more to build a
presentable fence than to make an un-
slightly one, but the neat fence adds to
the value of the farm, while the other
kind depresses land values.
There is room for much improvement
in water supplies on farms. There
should be good water-running water, II
possible-in the kitchen and in the farm
yard. II running water cannot be Sc
cured, possibly cistern, to be filled
from the barn roof, can be so located as
to give water to the house and barn
without the use of pump. Wells
should be so located that they will not
receive the drainage from the farmyard
or from the privy. The well should
never be near these places, but as far
away as possible.
Buildings always look better when
kept pain ted. Barns and Outbuildings
may be heaply covered with red min
eral paint mixed in oil at home. Any
farmer can apply this himself or his help
ers can dc it. Ready mixed paints may
be purchased in all colors for the house.
This work may all be accomplished at
odd times when ordinary farm work
cannot 60 on. 1t will do as much for
the farm as village Improvement will
do for village. If universally adopted
it would revive dead neighborhoods. 1t
would make many cheap farms valuable.
The friend above quoted has been on his
farm two years, and he is now erecting
stabling for twenty-five cows. His cows
are producing milk and manure. The
manure will make grass, which will feed
more cows, and they will pay his debt
DR.. George G. Croft, Lewisburg, Penn.