The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-04
THE WoMlN's WORKSHOP" +"
THE KITCHEN THE MOST I'M.
PORTANT ROOM IN THE
FARM HOUSE.
Governments Farm Architect Points
out Importance OF an Economically
Constructed and Comfortable Home
tn the Farmer.

Washington, Jan. 29.-The i'm
portance to the farmer of having an
economical farm house has been en-
phasized by the farm architect Of the
department of agriculture. who states
that the mental and physical fitness of
the laborers both within the house and
In the fields are vitality affected by the
building that affords the family shell
ter. The average American farm
home has failed to share In the i'm
provements that are every day being
made I'm agricultural conditions and,
according to the architect, Is a rebuke
te' our boasted civilization. Rela-
lively. he says, the housewife Of a
century ago with her fireplace cook
ing and log cabin was better provided
Ter than is the housewife today.
The most important building on a
farm is the home. The health, COM
fort and happiness of the family are
dependent upon its construction and
equipment, and unless these matters
are looked after the sanitary dairy
barn or the economically constructed
buildings for stock are of little value.
Happiness and contentment in the
family are as essential to efficient SER
vice as improved tools and out
buildings.
Although the housewife spends, in
many cases. u lifetime in her work
shop" the kitchen and the family
rooms. she Is not. as a rule, capable
OF planning house in the highest de-
gree serviceable and comfortable
without assistance. Her help, how
ever Ia essential to the farm archi-
tect, az the result OF his plans most
vitality concerns her.
In 1910 a western farm paper, at
the suggestion Of the department Of
agriculture. conducted a competition
for farm house plans. About $50
plans Of farm houses were submitted,
not one Of which was fully satisfac-
tory. The larger number insisted on
some particular pet notion and en-
phasized a single feature to the neg
lect OF other important ones. The
men and women who familiarize them
selves with the work to be done and
then apply themselves to the single
task OF devising means. are the ones
who, with the cooperation Of the
farmers. and their wives, can best
handle the farm house problem.
One Of the most important details
regarding the average American farm
house is that il must be inexpensive.
The average annual net income to q
farmer today, after deducting five per
cent interest on his investment, is
less than $500. This does not mean
that the houses may not be attractive.
They may. II intelligently planned with
the help 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 problem is grow
ing In Importance as can be seen from
the fact that the number of rented
farms Increased by more than 324,-
600 during the last decade. Today lit
tie more than half the farms in this
country are operated by the owners.
To Economic The Housewives
Strength.
The possible economy in household
labor and the conservation of the
strength of the housewife are two
important factors to be considered In
the construction of a farm house.
Pleasant and comfortable farm homes
tend 20 hold families together; but the
cheerless. unlovable and insanitary
houses drive boys and girls to the
cities. Investigation Of prisons, insane
asylums and houses Of correction,
seem to prove the fact that the sins
which account for the existence Of
these institutions are often bred IN
inadequate and unhappy farr' homes.
So this social aspect of the pro oiem Is
considerable.
The public Is awakening to the fact
that better farm houses are needed,
and the special feature which many
farm papers now issue as "House
Building Number" proves Its interest
TO thousands of readers.
The office Of Farm Management of
the department Of agriculture has now
undertaken To investigate this prob
lem Systematically and to evolve. it
possible. practical improvements for
the benefit Of the farmers home.
Certain features are often over
looked in providing economical ar