Connecticut western news., 1910-06-02
CONFERENCES IN
 FARMERS HOMES
LABOR SAVERS FOR EVERYONE
Suggestions and Ideas Recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture in the Annual Report Just Issued-By w. R. Beattie.

Agriculture in the Annual Report
 Just Issued-By w. R. Beattie.
 In travelling through the United States is one impressed by the untold wealth represented in comfortable homes and their surroundings. This is especially true of the cities and of the country places built by population which is not dependent upon the tilling of the soil as ' means of obtaining livelihood. The past decade has witnessed marvellous ad. vances in methods of cultiyAting the oil and caring for farm crops, but on
 aany farms the improvement of the
 rome has not kept pace with the times.
 The days of the home spinning wheel
 nd loom are past. but in many farm
 ,omes little has yet been done to lessen
 he burden of women's work, although ,lbor- saving devices are both numerous md easily installed. Throughout the country there is great difficulty in secur. ing competent help for housework, and avery appliance that is genuine labor saver is a money-maker as well.
 Where a new house is being built it will be possible to provide for the in. stallation of the conveniences as the work of building proceeds, but there are now thousands of homes wherein no provision has been made for such nec- essaries as bathroom, kitchen sink, and water under pressure. It is in these ,Ases that there is the greatest need for
 suggestions and information.
 The first and most important consider .tion in home improvement is a whole ')nie and plentiful supply of water. Until recently it was necessary to locate the dwelling near the water supply, ut with the great advance in the man afacture of pumps aud piping it Is now feasible to transport the water any reas rnable distance. Good water is one of the most valuable natural resources of the farm. and it would be difficult to es climate the value of an unfailing spring located within reasonable distance of the house. Frequently the most relia- ble. or perhaps the only, water supply for the farm home is located at a con- siderable distance from the dwelling, and the water for culinary and laundry purposes is either carried or hauled; here is the opportunity for the employment of labor-saving devices. Cases are known where families for three genera. tions have carried water for all domestic purposes distance of several hundred feet from spring that is located at higher level than the house, where an investment of few dollars would have brought the flow of the spring into the kitchen by graYitation. On most farms, however, the dwelling is located at a higher level than the source of water supply, necesltating some form of pump ing device. Water is heavy and few persons realize the labor required in lift ing and delivering it where wanted for use.
 The advent of che gasoline engine in 10 common use on the farm has made possible the combination of number of labor.saviug facilities, including the pumping of water,
 One of the important features In the mqking of comfortable farm home is the proper location of the house and gen. eral outbuildings. The grouping to- gether of all the buildings may not be practicable on large farms, but those that serve for the comfort and conyen- fence of the family should by all means be near each other. Where the build ings are already located it will be diff cult to remedy defects, and about the only thing to be done is to accommodate improvements to present conditions.
 The ideal arrangement of rooms in the house is to have the kitchen on the northeast corner, where it will receive the early morning sunshine in winter and be protected from the excessive heat of the afternoon and evening during the summer months. For many reasons a southeastern exposure is most desirable for the dining room, with the library and living rooms to the west, where they will have the benefit of the even ing sunshine.
 The question of light and ventilation in the kitchen is of prime importance. Many of our farm kitchens consist of a mere lean-to or shed built on the back of the house, having one or two small sliding sashes for windows. a batten door, and very little provision for venti- lation. Provided the openings are pro- perly screened, it is almost impossible to have too much light or ventilation in the kitchen.
 In planning the kitchen special atten-