112 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



The Heating and Lighting of the Farmhouse. The question 

 of how the farm dwelling should be heated will depend largely 

 upon local conditions and the character of fuel to be used. For- 

 merly our country dwellings were heated almost universally by 

 means of stoves or, going still farther back, by open fireplaces. In 

 the present day the open fireplace is a desirable feature of the li- 

 brary or general living room, but is not of great economic value as a 

 means of heating except in southern climates. . 



In many of our farmhouses may be found modern heating 

 appliances, consisting of either a hot-air furnace or a steam or hot- 

 water equipment. Suitable heaters are now upon the market de- 

 signed for the use of almost every kind of fuel. 



The installation of heating appliances of an improved type ia 

 one of the most expensive features of home improvement. The cost 

 of such installation will be approximately $50 for each room so 

 heated. In some cases the work may be done for considerably less, 

 but it is always well to figure on the highest price. 



Furnaces appear to be gaining favor for warming houses of 

 moderate size. If a good furnace of sufficient size is properly lo- 

 cated and well put up there will be no cause for complaint. The 

 hot-air pipes should be as short as the location of the registers will 

 permit. The registers of the lower floor are often placed in the 

 floor for convenience in piping, but the wall register is the best 

 and should be used wherever possible. The cold-air pipe should 

 be amply large and provided with a damper near the cold-air win- 

 dow. This cold-air connection to the furnace should always be 

 directly at the rear. The advantage of the furnace system of heat- 

 ing is its direct supply of fresh air. A combination hot-air and hot- 

 water system which furnishes warm air to a number of rooms and 

 direct radiators to others is very efficient, but more expensive. 



A hot-water system is similar in construction and operation 

 to one designed for steam. It is regarded by many persons as the 

 best method for heating residences. The water rises from the heater 

 in the cellar to the radiators and is returned to the base of the 

 heater, the change of temperature causing the circulation. The 

 two-pipe system is more economical of fuel, but more expensive 

 to install than the overhead system. 



During recent years various forms of apparatus for lighting 

 country homes have been devised. Kerosene has certain advantages, 

 but the labor of caring for lamps is considerable. In all cases where 

 lamps are used those of brass or similar metal should be selected 

 in preference to glass. Metal lamps are safer than glass and are also 

 more easily cleaned and handled. 



Acetylene gas is now used quite extensively for the lighting 

 of farmhouses. The installation of an acetylene outfit is rather 

 too expensive for the average farm home, the generator costing 

 from $125 to $250, in addition to the piping and lighting fixtures. 

 This would bring the entire expense to approximately $300 for a 

 seven or eight room dwelling. After the installation is effected, 

 however, the cost of maintaining a plant of this nature is not great. 



