Middletown transcript., 1914-03-07
BETTER FARM HOMES
The Department Of Agriculture kas
Made Public its First Plans
PLANNING SIMPLE STRUCTURES

I LA!tINLNO DAl1f LIZ OlkUGIUEES
The Department of Agriculture has
made public the first of a series Of
plans for farmhouses to be prepared by
its specialists with view to enabling
farmers to construct inexpensive and
better homes. The objects sought in
the plans are to provide structures
reasonable in cost and of good material
and so arranged as to give the maximum
in health, comfort and happiness to the
family and added convenience to the
housewife in her domestic operations.
The provision of proper tenant houses
on farms, it is believed, is of increasing
Importance to farm management be
cause of t. he increasing number of
rented farms, the growing demand
of tenants for modern houses and a
better understanding of the inf uences
of the home upon farm labor and field
efficiency.
The census report of 1910 showed an
increase during the previous 10 years
of more than 324, LOCO rented farms.
Many of the new tenants NOV d into
good houses vacated by the owners, but
many others are living in buildings,
wholly unsuited to their needs. The
cost Of these houses commonly is incon-
sistent with the value of the farms.
and the lack of improvements in them
too often is in striking contrast with the
outbuildings, farming machinery and
field equipment.
PLANNING SIMPLE STRUCTURE
The tenant house planned by the de-
partment is a simple, tour-cornered
structure, without bay windows, gables
and dormers, or any projection, save
the cornice, which overhangs and pro-
tects the walls and window openings.
The house is planned for the smallest
dimensions and the most inexpensive
arrangement consistent with the needs
and the convenience of a small family.
1t has but one chimney and but one out-
side entrance.
1t is economical, for instance, to have
but one outside entrance to this house.
With this entrance nearest the barns
and the entrance from the highway
and treated as it is With the simple and
inexpensive per~ola and benches, which
separate the lawn and the back yard, it
should serve every purpose of a front
door, and as well also kitchen door,
Notwithstanding the simplicity and
the playhouse appearance of the build
ing suggested by the department it
provides more usable space for the daily
activities of the family than many larger
houses. 1t is more convenient for
small family, more comfortable, heal,h-
full and delightful than many farmhou5es
costing twice as much.
KITCHEN HOLns MANY ADVANTAGES
Very few residences of any size or
cost have a kitchen more Pleasantly
located, better lighted and ventilated,
and more conv veniently arranged than
this little four room house. 1t is bright
ened by the morning sun, c1oled by the
southern breezes and shielded from the
intense heat of summer afternoons. 1t
commands a view Of the garden, the
the barns, the lawn, the
gate and the highway. 1t opens on TO
a screened porch which, in summer,
is the most livahle nook in the house.
Much of the kitchen work may be done
there away from the fumes and heat of
the stove, which, happily for the other
rooms of the house, blow out through
the north and east windows.
The stove is well lighted, and, with
the porch window closed. it is out of the
cross drafts of air. 1t is within six feet
of the most distant fixture in the kitchen
and but little farther from the dining
table. All stove utensiles are within
reach and the work table and the fuel in
the box beneath it are but two stels
away. The ashes drop from the fire.
box of the stove through short pipe
to the ash bin beneath the concrete floor.
The fuel box, supporting the table
top, occupies space which might other
wise be wasted 1t is filed from the
outside of the house and enptied from
the inside through a small door over the
floor.
The carrying of fuel and aslssis thus
from the, womans work,
provided the man or boy fills the wood
or coal box each week, or as may be
and empties the ash bin two
or three times year.