CHOICE OF SITE 3 



including that of the master's office, should command a good view of 

 the steading. 



The site for the homestead should be high, dry, and healthy, and 

 near to a source of water supply. If there be any suspicion that the 

 ground of a proposed site may, at some seasons, become water-logged, 

 such a site should be abandoned. In doubtful cases it may be advisable 

 to test the site by sinking trial holes at different parts of it, and observing 

 how long the water surface in these holes takes to sink to a depth of 

 2 feet from the surface of the ground, after the occurrence of heavy 

 and continued rain. If trial holes be sunk in the dry season, and 

 water be reached at 3 feet depth or less, it will probably be advisable 

 to abandon the site. Farm buildings and dwelling houses should never 

 be located immediately below an irrigation canal. 



A gravelly, shaley, or rocky subsoil is the best to build upon. Very 

 sandy or clayey soils should be avoided. 



A slight ground slope, about 1 in 50, is the most desirable, as it 

 facilitates drainage without making the floors and buildings difficult 

 to construct, as would be the case on a steeper slope. 



Sunlight is an excellent germicide, and buildings in which animals 

 are housed should be aligned so that the sun can shine freely into 

 them at some period, or periods, of the day. Thus a cow-byre running 

 with its length more or less north and south, and provided with 

 windows along each side, would be penetrated by the rays of both 

 the morning and afternoon sun. If, however, animals are tied up in 

 stalls during the day, care should be taken that some part of the head 

 of the stall is always in shadow, so that the animal need not subject 

 itself to direct sunlight falling on its eyes. Further, any surfaces from 

 which, if white, the glare of reflected sunlight would impinge on the 

 animal's eyes, should be coloured either grey or some other neutral tint. 



Avoid where possible having the doors, of buildings which house 

 animals, facing the direction from which cold winter winds blow. 



In colder parts of the country the site for the farm buildings should 

 be chosen so that, if possible, the homestead will be sheltered from these 

 cold wfeids, without cool and refreshing summer winds being impeded. 

 If natural shelter does not exist, a belt of trees may be planted for this 

 purpose. Judicious tree planting, with due regard to coolness and not 

 burying the buildings in trees, will in most cases improve the appearance 

 of both steading and dwelling-house. 



