Semi-weekly herald., 1914-02-02
are every day being made in agricul.

are every day being made in agricul-
tural conditions and is a rebuke TO
our boasted civilization. Relatively
the housewife of century ago, with
her fireplace cooking and log house
cabin, was better provided for than
is the housewife today. The most
important building on the farm is the
home. The health, comfort and hap
piness are dependent upon its con-
struction and equipment, and unless
these matters are looked after, the
sanitary dairy barn, or the economi-
cally constructed buildings for stock
are Of little value. Happiness and
eontentment in the family are as es-
sential to efficient service as are i'm
proved tools and outbuildings.
Although the housewife spends, in
many cases, lifetime in her work
shop'-the kitchen-and the family
rooms, she is not as rule, capable
Of planning house in the highest de-
gree serviceable and comfortable,
without assistance. Her help, how
ever, is essential to the farm archi-
| tect, as the result of his plans most
vitality concern her. One of the most
important details regarding the aver
| age American income farm house is
that it must be inexpensive. The av-
erage net annual income of the farm
er today, after deducting five per
cent interest on his investment, is
less than S400. This does not mean
that the house may not be attract
i've. They may, if intelligently plant
ed, with the help of vines, shrubs and
trees, become the prettiest spots in
the landscape and more beautiful and
inexpensive than the crowded city
houses. The tenant house is growing
in Importance. The number of rent
ed farms increased by more than
$4,000 during the last decade. Today
little more than half the farms in this
country are operation by owners.
"The possible economy in household
labor and the conservation of
strength of the house wife are two
important factors to be considered in
the construction of the farm house
Pleasant and comfortable farm homes
tend 10 hold families together; but
cheerless, uuattractive and unsanitary
houses are what is driving girls and
boys to the cities. Investigations Of
prisons, insane asylums and correct.
i've institutions seem to prove that
the sins which account for the exist
ence of these institutions are otter
bred in inadequate and unpleasant
farm homes. Therefore this socia
aspect of the problem is considerable
5 "The office of the farm manage
ment bureau has now undertaken t(
Investigate and solve the problem ot
making the farm home better AL,
ready it has learned that certain fea
S lures are overlooked in providing
/ economical arrangements for tn,
D household, when they might just a,
easily be provided for. One of tn,
b departments specialists learned tina
a woman in Pennsylvania had broker
down from overwork. She had beer
/ carrying coal from the kitchen to tn,
5 barn for years. When the HUSBAND
was asked if there was any reason
| why coal bunker could not hav,
/ been provided near the cookstove ant
!. filled directly from his wagon, h
q answered nobody had ever though
of itv
/ after economy in the construction
= of the building and in the houseworl
s has been attained, attention will b
t given to the development of beauty
Simplicity of line and good. proper
h ton are meant by the word beauty
d This simplicity is entirely in keepin,
V with the general plan of economy
e but not cheapness.
Double strength glass may eve
be economical in the long run in
tenant house. A kitchen sink may b
a better paying investment, althoug
it excludes bay window, or fire
place that has been the pet idea o
the farm housewife.
- Screened in porches, sleeping
porches, double or triple windows, an
kitchen conveniences are fine econ
T omical features which even the smal
!, lest house plans should contain.
separate living room or parlor i
vastly more important than a separ
ate dining room. 1t is much bette
to eat in the kitchen and nave rea
living room in which the family ca
gather, or company can be entertain
ed, than to have separate dinin,
v room and no living room. These sep
arate rooms may have complete sys
TENS of plumbing, heating and light
ing which involve additional expens
/. but very little. But the kitchen i
. the most important room in the farm
house.