CHAPTER XXII 



LOCATION" AND ARRANGEMENT OF FARM BUILDINGS 

 By Dr. W. T. L. Taliaferro, D.Sc.> 



In the location and arrangement of farm buildings, the 

 primary considerations are sanitation, efficiency, economy, con- 

 venience and appearance. Each of these must be considered 

 under several subheads, some distinct and some overlapping. 



Under sanitation may be considered drainage, sunlight, fresh 

 air, and ready and complete disposal of animal waste. 



Under convenience may be considered distance and ease of 

 access from home to buildings and from farm buildings to the 

 fields and the highways, economy of time and labor in feeding 

 and watering stock, and in handling crops and animal products. 



Esthetic reasons suggest that the dwelling-house should front 

 toward as extended and pleasing a view as may be obtained, 

 with local ornamentation in the shape of a lawn with trees and 

 shrubbery and flowers. In very many cases convenience dictates 

 that it should front upon the public road and at no great distance 

 from it. 



Sometimes, and especially on large farms, it is moi^e conven- 

 ient to place the farm buildings in the center of the farm to avoid 

 long distances from them to the outlying fields and consequent 

 waste of time in going to and fro. As the farm dwelling-house 

 should never be very far from the other buildings, in the latter 

 case the dwelling must follow the other buildings. In any event, 

 it is desirable that the site of the dwelling be on higher ground 

 than the other buildings and capable of being made attractive. 



A pleasing situation and attractive surroundings for the farm 

 home not only gives constant pleasure to those who occupy it, 

 but also adds appreciably to the market value of the property. 



On the other hand, the drear, desolate ^'unhomy" appearance 

 of some farm dwellings acts as a repellant on the would-be pur- 

 chaser, while, at the same time, it kindles and daily stimulates a 

 desire in the young people, especially, to leave the farm. 



It is by no means necessary that the farm home be surrounded 

 with large grounds and elaborate ornamental plantings. On the 

 contrary, such surroundings are entirely out of place, for, gener- 



* ^larvland Agricultural College. 



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