616 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



cheapest in the end, by the vast amount of labor saved, that is always involved where build 

 ings are wanting in this essential. Of course, good judgment and taste are necessary in 

 securing such results, and while the one who plans the structure may possess the former, he may 

 not the latter, for it is not every one who is endowed with sufficient taste to plan the artistic 

 arrangement of a building, as will be seen by the attempts in this kind of art, exemplified by 

 many of the buildings commonly seen upon the farm. In the construction of farm buildings, 

 health, comfort, and convenience should have the first consideration, being of primary 

 importance, while beauty of design and ornamentation, though of secondary importance, 

 should not be entirely overlooked. 



Repairing and Painting Buildings, etc. In the architectural study of farm 

 buildings, a recent writer has divided them into two classes, viz. : &quot; Those already built, and 

 those which are to be built&quot;; in other words, the old, and the prospective new. As the 

 former are by far the most numerous, we will consider them first. 



The importance of keeping farm buildings in good repair should not be overlooked by 

 any farmer who has regard not only to the general thrifty and orderly appearance of his 

 surroundings, but to economy as well. On every well-regulated farm, frequent repairs in 

 buildings become a necessity in securing their preservation, and unless these necessary repairs 

 are made in season, and thoroughly performed, the expense of repairing will be largely 

 increased, and permanent injury to the buildings often be the result. If a leak in the roof 

 of a building, or elsewhere, is promptly stopped, no injury is occasioned by it; but if neg 

 lected month after month the frame-work of the building will be liable to decay, and become 

 after a little time so seriously injured as to be worthless. &quot;When buildings need painting, 

 the sooner the new coat of paint is applied, the better. If too long neglected, the surface 

 becomes rough by exposure to the weather, which will render the painting more difficult to 

 perform, and also require much more paint to cover the surface well; hence, promptness in 

 such cases is an economy in both the expense of labor and material. 



Besides the economy of keeping buildings in good repair, their neat and orderly appear 

 ance is no small argument in favor of such management. Good work, promptly performed, 

 is in all respects the cheapest. In painting buildings, two objects are secured, viz. : orna 

 mentation and durability. Paint adds to the beauty of the buildings, and also tends to pre 

 serve the wood to which it is applied. Buildings that are kept well painted have a neat, 

 attractive appearance, are an indication of the culture, refinement, and prosperity of the 

 owner, and render home more pleasant to the family circle. Unpainted buildings have a 

 dingy, neglected appearance, and will require a new covering of wood- work much sooner than 

 those that are kept well painted. 



In answer to the question, whether it will pay for the farmer of small means, and many 

 expenses, to incur the additional expense of keeping his buildings well painted, we would 

 say, that it depends upon various circumstances; if mere money value in benefits resulting 

 from having well-painted buildings is considered, it will depend upon whether it will cost 

 more to procure the paint necessary to preserve the wood-work than to newly cover the 

 buildings whsn they need it. 



In some sections, where lumber is cheap, the paint would be the most expensive; in 

 others, where timber is scarce, the cost of timber and labor of re-covering would prove the 

 most expensive. But the money value of things is not the only consideration to be involved. 

 The attractions that may be added to the home by the outlay of keeping the farm buildings 

 well painted, and in good repair, and the pleasure and satisfaction afforded the family, besides 

 the refining and educating influence of pleasant surroundings, are considerations which it 

 would be difficult to weigh by a money standard. 



If farmers would take more pains to make their homes attractive and pleasant, and farm- 

 life something better than the hard drudgery that it too commonly is, there would be more 



