236 KENDALL COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



hay, and barn yard manures made and kept mostly in sheds. 

 I consider manures thus made and preserved worth from 

 three to ten times as much as that allowed to leach out doors. 

 The farm is fenced with four and five boards, and two pieces 

 of hedge, about 100 rods in all, and common fence of rails. 



BUILDINGS. 



To be successful in farming, it is essential to have good 

 buildings, sufficient for the housing and storing of all stock, 

 grain, hay, agricultural and other implements, so arranged 

 as to give the fewest steps, both in and out doors. The plans 

 of my barn and lots are given, from a study of which, I believe 

 that it will be found that they contain very many of these 

 advantages. The buildings have temporary sheds for hogs 

 occupying the space between the barn and double corn crib, 

 with the feeding platform in, on which to feed hogs. My 

 house was built in 1870. It is constructed of wood, brick 

 and stone. The cellar is built with a five foot stonewall, 18 

 iirehes thick, and is divided into four rooms with brick walls. 

 One room contains a fire-proof vault for ashes and for smoking 

 meats. The three chimneys coming down to the bottom of the 

 cellar, are set on stone work twice the size of their base. Its 

 cost was about $3,950. It could probably be duplicated now 

 for about $3,000. The superstructure is two stories, of 9 feet 

 and 8 feet 10 inches respectively, pine for frame and for the 

 most part of the finishing. Black walnut for mouldings and 

 panels in some of the doors ; butternut and black walnut in 

 others. Black walnut and pine wainscoting, walnut and cherry 

 mixed for new.el post, balusters and stair railing. Painted 

 outside v/ith white lead and raw oil. Green paint for blinds. 

 Inside the finish is boiled oil, two coats, thoroughly dried be- 

 tween coats, and a coat of coach varnish, which we have found 

 with nine years' wear to carry a beautiful finish and to stand bet- 

 ter than paint. It is easily cleaned by wiping off occasionally 

 with a damp, clean cloth. The position of the doors and beds, 

 two very essential things in constructing a house, is such that 

 the doors will open and lie back out of the way, and the beds 



