432 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



PLANNING THE FARM IN RELATION TO THE FARMSTEAD. 



BY J. B. DAVIDSON. 



Department of Agricultural Engineering, Iowa State College of 



Agriculture. 



An investigation of the loss of time and energy upon Iowa farms 

 on account of an inconvenient arrangement of the fields, roads and build- 

 ings, indicates that farm planning should be given much greater consid- 

 eration than it now receives. An inconvenient placing of the feed 

 room, for example, in reference to the barns and the house, may mean 

 only a few hundred extra feet of travel or a few extra minutes every day 

 in caring for the live stock of the farm, but the accumulated loss for a 

 year or number of years becomes enormous. For instance, the walking" 

 of three hundred feet twice a day amounts to over forty miles a year and 

 in like manner fifteen extra minutes twice a day amounts to over eigh- 

 teen days, or ten hours each, per year. 



A good way to plan the arrangement of the farm, including the loca- 

 tion of the various farm buildings, roads to the field, etc., is to prepare 

 a sketch or map upon which the routes may be traced which must be fol- 

 lowed in doing the day's work, including the morning and evening chores 

 and a trip to town or other places .of traffic The accompanying sketch 

 shows such routes and attention is called to the convenience secured. It is 

 true that upon most farms the fields and buldings are already located, 

 yet adjustments are made from time to time and -these should be made 

 according to well-thought-out plans in order that the general arrange- 

 ment may improve rather than grow less convenient. To assist in laying 

 out the farm and planning the farmstead, the following general considera- 

 tions are suggested. Perhaps it will not be possible to incorporate all of 

 these principles in any one plan, yet they represent advr.ntages which 

 should be securer! if possible, though it is realized that each farm is a 

 problem in itself. 



1. Have the fields as nearly the same size as possible in order 

 facilitate crop rotation. 



2. Have as many fields as possible in direct connection with the barn 

 lot. 



3. Size of fields should bo in proportion to size of entire farm. 



4. Land of the same quality should be in the same inclosure. 



5. Where there are streams on the farm, arrange the fields to border 

 on them so as not to interfere with cultivation and to be more convenient 

 for watering stock or irrigation. 



6. Avoid needless fences on account of cost and maintenance. 



7. Have the buildings near the center of the farm, giving due con- 

 sideration to other advantages. 



