St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-01-28

needed. and the special feature which
many farm papers now issue as a
House Building Number" proves its
interest to thousands of readers.
The ONCE of Farm Management
of the Department of Agriculture
has now undertaken to investigate
this problem systematically and TO
evolve, il possible, practical improve
ments for the benefit of the farmers
home.
Certain features are often over
looked in providing economical ar
rangements for the household when
they might be easily provided Tor.
One of the specialists of the Office
of Farm Management learned from
woman in Pennsylvania, who had
broken down from overwOrk, that
she had been carrying coal from the
barn for years. When the husband
was asked if there was any reason
why a coal bunker could not have
been provided near the cookstove
and filled directly from the wagon,
he answered that there was none,
but that no one had ever thought
of it. This one detail has been found
neglected in other cases where it
could have been easily remedied, if
only someone had thought of it.
Develop Beauty.
After economy in the construction
of the building and in the house
work has been attained, attention
will be given to developing beauty.
Simplicity in line and good gro
portions are meant by the use OF
this word beauty and not so-called
applied Ornaments This simpli-
city is entirely in keeping with a
general plan of economy.
Economy, however, is not a
synonym for cheapness. Double
strength glass may even be more
economical in a tenant house than
single strength, Notwithstanding its
greater first cost A kitchen sink
may be a paying investment although
it excludes a bay window, or a fire
place, which has been the pet notion
of the housewife. Screened-in kitch-
en- porches sleeping porches, double
or triple windows, and kitchen
conXeniences are fine economical
featIares which even the smallest
house plans may we'll consider. Separ
ate dining rooms for families that
generally eat in the kitchen are less
important, as are "parlors. These
S0pdIdJ0 1OOuS may nave NOhPAOSO
systems of plumbing, heating and
lighting which involves additional
expense. The kitchen is the most
important room in the farm house.
For the average farmer, economy
bars a room especially reserved for
weddings and funerals. A back
stairway in small houses is an I'M
necessary luxury. Large halls which
are never used to live in, but merely
as thoroughfares, are a feature which
can be dispensed with in the interest
of a smaller outlay of money.
Other features that should give
way to a comfortable and convenient !
kitchen are narrow porches, filigree
work, numerous angles in walls and |
roof, useless doors. There should be
an intelligent purpose for every cubic
foot of space and for every piece of
material about the building, if pos
sible.
1t may not be found practicable for
the Department of Agriculture to
furnish plans and specifications of
farm houses worked out for parti-
cular individual needs. However,
it is believed to be desirable to work
put plans and specifications for the
general needs of farmers and to illu-
strate and explain the plans so that
he farmer may understand the prin-
eiples involved and apply them when
lie remodels his present house. The
Office of Farm Management is en-
ieavoring to help the farmer and the
armer's wife along these lines.