ARRANGEMENT OF FARM BUILDINGS 407 



Except in the extreme north, such open sheds faced to the 

 south are better than closed barns for stock, cattle and sheep. 

 If the windows are very cold and windy, the lower part of the 

 front may be closed in. The important thing about such shelters 

 is that they be so located that they will at all times be thor- 

 oughly dry. 



A carpenter shop with a well-lighted bench and a blacksmith 

 shop are extremely useful accessories on every farm of any size. 

 These may be in the same building, which may be placed in any 

 convenient situation somewhat in the background. 



The farm flock is and will continue to be the principal source 

 of poultry products. Since the farmer's wife usually looks after 

 the flock and handles the proceeds, the farmer often gives but 

 little thought to the poultry, and it suffers accordingly. No class 

 of domestic livestock, however, responds more promptly and 

 profitably to good attention than the farm hen, and she is worthy 

 of the best that can be given her. Since the woman of the house 

 has most to do with them, the poultry buildings must be where 

 she can reach them easily and often. Neglected hens, sick hens, 

 cold hens and hens with wet feet do not lay, and the health and 

 comfort of the flock are often adversely affected by a bad loca- 

 tion of their quarters. A southern or eastern exposure, a dry, 

 and, if possible, sheltered situation convenient to shade in sum- 

 mer and, when the flock has to be kept up, to small lots for a 

 rotation of poultry pasture crops, are indispensable where the 

 flock is considered from a profit-making basis. 



Each year sees more and more farmhouses equipped with 

 running w^ater and inside toilet facilities. But a very large pro- 

 portion are yet and will continue to be dependent upon outside 

 closets. Under sanitary management, it was necessary that 

 these closets be placed at a distance from other buildings. But 

 such distances are by no means necessary, and the situation of 

 these buildings may be made much more convenient to those who 

 have to use them if sanitary precautions are taken in the way of 

 a proper receptacle for the waste, wire screens and an abundant 

 use of dry earth kept ready to hand in the building, which must 

 therefore be made large enough to contain a dry earth box capa- 

 ble of holding enough for a considerable period of time. 

 Screened by a vine-covered trellis or low-growing evergreens, 

 the proximity of such a building is not unsanitary and in no way 

 objectionable. 



Especially on farms where there is much outside labor 



