The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-03-06
BUILD YOUR KITCHEN FIRST
It Is Most Important Room in Farm
House-Necessity Of Simplicity.

House-Necessity Of Simplicity.
The kitchen is the most important
room in the farm house, according to
the farm architect OF the U. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture. A recent news
bulletin from the department y
The possible economy in household
labor and the conservation Of the
strength of the housewife are two i'm
portant factors to be considered IN
the construction OF a farm house.
Pleasant and comfortable farm homes
tend to hold families together; but
the cheerless. ENJOYABLE, and insani-
tary houses drive boys and girls to
the cities.
The office of Farm Management OF
Agriculture has now undertaken TO
investigate this problem systemati-
cally and to evolve practical improve
ments for the benefit of the farmers
home.
Certain features are often overlook
ed in providing economical arrange
ments for the household when they
might be easily provided for. One
OF the specialists of the office of Farm
Management learned from a M in
Pennsylvania. who had broken down
from overwork, that she had beer
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
cook stove and filled directly from
the wagon, he answered there was
none, but that no n had ever thought
Of it. This one detail has been found
neglected in other cases where 1t
could have been easily remedied, II
only someone had thought of it.
One of the most important details
! regarding the average American farm
house is that 1t must be inexpensive.
The average annual net income OF a
farmer today, after deducting five per
cent interest on his investment, is
less than $500. This does not meal
that the houses may not be attrac-
tive. They say, if intelligently plan
ned and with the help of vines, shrubs,
and trees, become the prettiest spots
in the landscape, II more beautiful
and inexpensive than the crowded
city houses.
Beauty with Simplicity and Economy.
After economy in the construction
Of the building and in the housework
has been attained, attention will be
given to developing beauty. Simplici-
ty in line and good proportions are
meant by the use of this word beauty,
and not so-called applied Ornaments"
This simplicity is entirely in keeping
with a general plan OF economy.
Economy, however, Is not a syno-
nym for cheapness. Double strength
glass may even be more economical in
z tenan house than single strength,
notwithstanding its greater first cost.
A kitchen sink may be a paying in
vestment, although 1t excludes a bay
window or a fireplace, which has been
the pet notion of the housewife.
Screened-in kitchen porches, sleeping
porches, double or triple windows, and
kitchen conveniences are fine n
ical features when even the smallest
Aouse plans may we'll consider. Sep
arate dining DON for families that
generally eat in the kitchen are less
important, as are "parlOrs." These
separate rooms may have complete
systems of plumbing, heating. and
lighting which involve additional ex-
pense. The kitchen is the most impor-
tant room in the farm house.
Other features that should give way
to a comfortable and convenient kitch-
en- are narrow porches, filagree 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 posi-
BILE.
1t may be found practicable for the
Department Of Agriculture to furnish
plans and specifications OF farm
houses worked out for particular in
dividual needs. However. 1t is be-
lieved to be desirable to work out
plans and specifications for the gen
eral needs Of farmers and to illustrate
and explain the plans 30 that the farm
or may understand the principles In
volved and apply them when he remcd-
| els his prssent house. The Office Of
Farm Management is endeavoring to
help the farmer and the farmers
wife in this way.
EM