FARM BUILDINGS. 669 



on the farm, and the loss thus sustained would very soon defray the expense of providing a 

 convenient place of shelter for all such implements. 



Such a building need not be expensive, but should be built tight, to afford protection 

 from the weather. It should be located near to or adjoining the barn, be well covered and 

 lighted, and amply provided with large doors to render it convenient in getting machines in 

 and out of the building. For the latter reason, it should also be built but a little above the 

 ground. A tight floor should be laid, as it is not well to have machines stand upon the 

 ground, since the dampness arising from the earth would cause the steel and iron portions to 

 rust badly, as well as the wood-work to swell. A scaffold above will serve as a convenient 

 place of storage for lighter implements, such as rakes, forks, baskets, etc. This scaffold 

 should be reached by a pair of stairs. 



One part of the building should be done off for a repair-shop. This can be separated 

 from the former by large folding-doors. Tools are constantly needing to be repaired on even 

 the best regulated farms, and a special place supplied with implements for this purpose is a 

 great convenience, as well as the practice of economy; for if the farmer possesses the means 

 of repairing his farm tools and machines himself, when they require it, he will be more liable 

 to do it in season, before they become more badly broken or injured. The means of repair 

 ing them on the premises is also a saving of time and expense in having them taken to a 

 machine-shop for the purpose. With a little practice, any farmer who is handy in the use of 

 tools will soon be able to do many jobs in repairing broken or injured farm implements, that 

 the special mechanic is generally depended upon to perform. . The repair-shop should contain 

 a good work-bench, racks and shelves for the purpose of holding tools, a forge, and a 

 lathe. 



Two or three convenient horses, upon which planks or farm implements can be laid 

 when desired in repairing, will be necessary. A good set of tools for all the common pur 

 poses of working wood and iron will complete the establishment. The repair-shop would 

 require a stove in winter, in order to make it comfortable for working. Such a building, 

 especially where a forge is used, should have a good, substantial chimney, built rather high 

 above the roof. It should also be located sufficiently far from the other farm buildings to 

 obviate all danger from sparks that might escape from the chimney; still, it should be at a 

 convenient distance from them. It would also be well to cover the roof with tin, slate, or 

 some other fire-proof material. 



Ice-House. It was formerly supposed that the construction of ice-houses was an 

 expensive and laborious task, and the keeping of ice through the warm season was attended with 

 many difficulties; therefore, ice was regarded as a luxury that few farmers were financially able 

 to enjoy. But it has been found that very inexpensive structures, or their substitutes, with 

 proper construction and management, are all that is essential for supplying an abundance of ice, 

 which has within a few years ceased to be classed with the list of luxuries, and is now regarded 

 as one of the necessities on every well-conducted farm. There is really no reason why every 

 farmer s family should not be supplied with an abundance, since it can be furnished at so 

 slight an expenditure of money and labor. 



Those who have not been favored with the use of ice during the hot weather have no 

 idea of the benefits to be derived from it, both in sickness and health, while those who have 

 been accustomed to an abundant supply would scarcely feel that they could dispense with it 

 for even a single season. Ice is absolutely indispensable for securing the best results in a 

 dairy. In the city, it can always be readily obtained from those who make it their business 

 to furnish it; but in the country no such facilities will be found; therefore, each individual 

 farmer will be obliged to lay up a store during the winter months on his own premises for 

 home consumption, or be deprived of it in the season of its use. 



