456 



Reading-Course for Farmers. 



see a tall ornamented farm house of which the owner was very ])roiul 

 and which was maintained in spotless condition. Near the house stood 

 the barn, a plain simple structure without ornament or paint. I stopped 

 the horse in front of the house. My friend took in the situation, and 

 remarked, " That barn is a fine piece of architecture." 



Most of the old-fashioned farm buildings are pleasing in form. They 

 are relatively broad on the ground, with ample cornices and eaves, stout 

 chimneys, and big simple porch posts. They seem to be adapted to the 

 place. They look like real farm structures. But now we have copied 

 the millinery architecture of the cit}'. We have run our buildings up 



■■ti' 



'./,?■ 







Fig. 275. — All abandoned New York farm house. Discuss ils proportions. 



wdicre they may be seen, and as if land were worth so much the scjuare 

 foot; and often we have loaded them with tatting. Tlie porch posts 

 have been run through the turning lathe initil they are as slender as 

 possible and yet hold the load, thus contradicting the very purposes for 

 which posts are used — th.e purpose to provide stability and solidity. 

 The turner shows his skill by cutting them almost in two in several 

 places, and by shaping out various inharmonious forms on the same post. 

 I cannot see how a cylindrical or square pillar of good i^roportions is 

 made more beautiful or useful by having quirks and undulations run into 

 it, although it may sometimes serve very well as one element in a scheme 



