SOLON ROBINSON, 1839 115 



11. Buttery, 9 by 16 feet, excepting stairway. 



12. Parlor stove. d. Doors. 



13. Cooking stove. w. Windows. 



In the draft, I have sketched the position of the well, 

 cistern, garden, yards, &c. which I consider as a neces- 

 sary part of the "fixings" about a farmer's house. — Upon 

 our soil, cellars under the house are not admissible; and 

 in my opinion, should never be made under a dwelling- 

 house, only in very dry soils, and then ahvays kept clean. 



My house is built of hewn logs, but the same plan might 

 be adopted in using any material. It is esteemed a very 

 convenient house, without a foot of waste room. 



The south part is a story and a half, the ridge running 

 east and west; the other part one story, the ridge run- 

 ning north and south, and roof extending down over the 

 kitchen. The woodshed is a "lean-to" on the north end. 



I am much in favor of one story farm houses. They 

 are much easier for the good woman, and I believe the 

 extra cost of roofing is fully saved in several ways. The 

 frame need not be near as strong for a single story, par- 

 ticularly in a windy situation; and comfort and conveni- 

 ence never should be dispensed with by a farmer for 

 show. 



If you think the plan would be of sufficient interest to 



your readers to warrant its publication, and if I could 



ever be assured that it added an hour's comfort, or saved 



a dollar of expense to one of them, I shall be happy to 



think I have given it. I hope you will be furnished with 



numerous other plans, so that all tastes may be suited. 



Your friend, &c. 



Solon Robinson. 



Mammoth Sunflower. 



[Albany Cultivator, 6:166; Nov., 1839] 



Lake C. H. la. September 23, 1839. 

 J. Buel, Esq. — Dear Sir — Enclosed I send you a few 

 seed of what appears to me as a remarkable prolific sun- 

 flower, and also as illustrative of the fact, that all of our 



