View. 



tive views. Nearly all the older farmhouses, in those regions 

 where the home water supply is usually a spring, are located in 

 hollows. But most farmhouses built in recent years are, or 

 should be, supplied with running water in the kitchen from a 

 reservoir filled by a windmill, ram, gasoline engine, or other 

 power, or even from a roof supply. Hence, in a rolling country 

 there is no longer the necessity for locating the house by the 

 spring in the hollow; it can be placed where it will command 

 a view of the farm and surrounding country, which will greatly 

 enhance its attractiveness. 



The farmhouse should be of simple and dignified architec- 6 

 ture. It should be sightly as well as comfortable. The owner 

 should avoid striving after elaborate designs. The "ginger- 

 bread" architecture of this house makes it ridiculous, because 

 it is out of place. The elaborate scroll-saw work is "fussy," 

 and soon becomes shabby. How much more satisfactory is 

 the farmhouse shown here. Contrast its simple, straight lines 7 

 with the cut-up and artificial design of the other. It is beauti- 

 ful because it is simple ; it looks l i homy, " and fits in well with its 

 surroundings. The other house merely copies city architec- 

 ture. It might do fairly well in a city or town where every- 

 thing is artificial and crowded, but it looks entirely out of 

 place in the open country. In recent years too many farm- 

 houses have been built according to city designs. It is hard 

 to improve upon the beautiful, roomy, and simple architecture 

 of the farm home of colonial days. The house shown in this 

 picture may not exactly please you in all details every one 

 should build a house to suit himself; but it illustrates the most 

 important feature of an attractive country home, no matter 

 how costly or how inexpensive simplicity of design. 



The principle of simplicity might well extend to other fea- 8 

 tures of the farm home besides the house. This "sunrise" fence 

 is an interesting piece of carpentry work, but one would hardly 

 call it beautiful or appropriate. A plain wire, iron, or picket 

 fence would be much better. Avoid such conspicuous things as 

 rows of whitewashed stones bordering the walks, whitewashed 

 tree trunks, iron dogs in the front lawn pointing at painted 

 iron partridges, and other curious, striking, gaudy, and in- 

 congruous effects. 



OUTBUILDINGS. 



The outbuildings should be in keeping with the house. This 9 

 shabby barn and slovenly barnyard are within 200 feet of an 

 expensive and really attractive farmhouse. The contrast is 

 striking and painful. How much better are the buildings on 



No. 14 



