380 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



made a regular grade. In many cases this will cost less than 

 to dig a deep cellar, and will not only give good surface drain- 

 age, but a good outlet for the drain. 



The position of the home in relation to the barn should be 

 such that there could be no possibility of contamination of the 

 water from the barn-yard drainage, and while the barn should 

 be near enough so that too much time would not be lost in going 

 back and forth, it should not be so near as to contaminate air 

 or water, and should not be in the direction of prevailing winds. 

 Where I live the best direction for the barn is north, for when 

 the wind is in that direction, the weather is usually bright and 

 -clear, with a strong breeze, which purifies the air, while with 

 the wind southerly, we often have muggy weather with a heavy, 

 oppressive atmosphere. This matter of drainage and location of 

 barn and other out-buildings in their relation to health, can not 

 be urged too strongly, or receive too careful attention. 



Convenience to farm, road, etc., should be carefully consid- 

 ered in locating the buildings. I would not build away from 

 the road in order to save a little distance in drawing the crops 

 from the fields, but would get as near the center of the farm as 

 possible, consistent with convenience to the road, as a little 

 saving on each trip to the fields, when these are to be re- 

 peated daily or oftener, for a life-time, will amount to a large 

 aggregate. 



Size of House Lot. This must depend to some extent 

 on the size of the farm, the lay of the land, and the size and 

 style of the buildings. A small yard, well cared for, is better 

 than a large one neglected. 



I do not think, however, that a farm house should ever have 

 a little box of a front yard, and there are few farms where 

 there should be less than a half-acre devoted to the yard. 

 When the farm is large, and the owner wealthy, several acres 

 can often be well set apart for ornamental purposes. The dis- 

 tance of the house from the road must be governed by the 

 grade, style of house, size of yard, etc., but I think should 

 never be less than forty or fifty feet, and the yard should 

 extend at the sides somewhat farther. I consider an east front 



