Evening journal., 1914-01-30
sy the United Press.

sy the United Press.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-The farm
house is pretty nearly the most int
lortant point about the farm. SO far
as the condition Of the agricultural
st is concerned, and of the farm
house, the kitchen is the most inn
)ortant room. Department of Agri-
ture experts so held in an article
.oday. The importance to the
farmer of having an economical
farm house." has been emphasized
by the Departments farm architect.
He holds that the mental and physi-
cal fitness of the laborers both with
in the house and in the fields is vi
tally affected by the building that af-
Cords the family shelter
THE average American farm
home" says the department, "has
failed to share in the improvements
that are every day being made in
agricultural conditions and is a re-
Duke to our boasted civilization. Rel
atively the housewife of a century
lgo. with her fireplace cooking and
lighthouse cabin. was better provid-
"a for than is the housewife today.
rhe most important building on the
'arm is the home. The health, COM
ort and happiness are dependent up
IN its construction and equipment
aud unless these matters are looked
after, the sanitary dairy-barn, or the
economically constructed buildings
for stock are of little value. Happi-
ness and contentment in the family
are as essential to efficient service
as are improved tools and outbuild-
ings.
Although the housewife spends, in
many cases. a lifetime in her
'workshop'-th l1itchen-and the
family rooms. she is not as n rule,
capable Of planning a house in the
highest degree serviceable and COM
Portable. without assistance. Her
help, however, is essential to the
farm architect. as the result of his
plans most vitality concern her. One
of the most important details re-
earding the average American in
come farmhouse is that it must be
inexpensive. The average net an
nual income of the farmer today, af-
ter deducting five per cent inter-
est on his investment, is less than
s4OO. This does not mean thar the
house may not be attractive. They
may. il ntellgently planted, with the
hclD of vines, shrubs and trees, be-
come the prettiest spots in the land
scape and more beautiful and mex
pensive than the crowded city
houses. The tenant house is grow
ing in Importance The number OF
rented farms increased by more than
$4,000 during the last decade. To
day little more than half the farms
IN this country are operated by
owners.
"The possible economy in household
labor and the conservation of strength
Of the housewife are two important
factors to be considered in the con-
struction of the farmhouse. Pleasant
and comfortable farm homes tend tC
bold families together; but cheerless
unattractiye and unsanitary houses
are what is driving girls and boys to
the cities. Investigations of prisons
insane asylums and corrective insti-
tutions seem 20 prove that the sins
which account for the existence OF
these institutions are often bred in
Inadequate and unpleasant farm
ZONES. Therefore this social aspect
d the problem is considered.
The Office of the Farm Management
bureau has now undertaken to inyesu-
gate and solve the problem of making
the farm home better. Already il
tas learned that certain features are
overlooked in providing economical
arrangements for the household. wher
they might Just as easily be provided
Tor One Of the departments special
SITS learned that a woman in Penn
ivlvania had broken down from over