MISCELLANEOUS. 463 



done by farm labor the expense is much less. In a 

 large house the cost of maintaining a furnace is less 

 than for stoves or fireplaces. A hot water system may 

 be installed by connecting coils with the furnace or 

 kitchen stove so that hot water can easily be obtained 

 and supplied to the kitchen and bathroom. 



There is no reason why a farmer should not supply 

 his home with the leading farm papers, magazines, a 

 good daily paper, rural books and a few instructive 

 books for the children, as nowadays the rural free de- 

 livery reaches most farm homes every day. 



The telephone is another convenience many farmers 

 can afford. It enables the family to communicate 

 with the neighbors and keep in touch with the outside 

 world. 



The house should be well screened to keep out flies 

 and mosquitoes. 



Comforts for the Children. The children's com- 

 fort should be considered. Hammocks and swings 

 placed in shady convenient places will afford much 

 amusement for the children. A good shepherd or 

 collie dog and a cat are excellent companions for the 

 younger folks, and they generally earn their keep. A 

 properly trained dog is a valuable asset on every farm. 

 Bird houses are a means of attracting valuable birds 

 to the farm, and serve as ornaments and help to keep 

 down injurious insects. 



The mother should have a knowledge of food, and 

 the functions of the nutrients so as to nourish properly 

 the growing children. Many children do not get the 

 proper start in life, because of inferior or unbalanced 

 food, and they are permanently injured for future 

 development. 



The Dooryard should be simple and kept clean. 

 Rubbish of all kinds should be dispensed with. A 

 plain lawn with shrubbery in the corners, screens of 

 vines to hide the unsightly places, and flower beds in 

 nooks near the house or against the fence are desirable 

 in the dooryard. A grass lawn should predominate 



