Beautifying the Farmstead. 21 



vailing winds, especially during those seasons when the doors and 

 windows are likely to be open, do not blow from the barns toward 

 the house. On the other hand, in cold climates the barn as well as 

 the house needs protection from severe Avinter winds. 



Further, the buildings must be arranged for convenience. The 

 interior of the house and its connection with the outside features, 

 whether with the barns or the public road, should be adapted to the 

 everyday life of the family. All too common examples of inappro- 

 priate farm architecture are front doors that are never used except 

 for funerals and parlors that are so seldom used that when they are 

 used they cast a reserve over the whole family. Drives and walks to 

 such front doors are a meaningless formality and should be elimi- 

 nated. In a house of such design the neighbors usually go directly 

 to the kitchen, because they know that is the entrance the family 

 uses, and the life of the family is so far from the front door it is 

 impossible to get any response even if the attempt is made. A more 

 pleasing and satisfactory arrangement is to have the entrance open 

 directly on the part of the house the family uses, as shown in figures 

 6 and 9. 



The entrance should be so located as to be easy and natural for 

 both the family and visitors to use. The approaches to it should be 

 so direct that there is no feeling of being taken out of the way in 

 following the roads or walks provided. In such an arrangement 

 the entrance and approaches are naturally used in accordance with 

 their design. 



The barns should be at a little distance from the house, but close 

 enough to facilitate the work to be done, and of such a character 

 architecturally that they look as though they belonged together. 

 The buildings should be as few in number as is practicable, or at 

 least should have the appearance of being a unified group from the 

 principal viewpoints. Such results can be brought about by careful 

 grouping, sometimes even building them around a courtyard, or if 

 necessary connecting some of them by sheds or walls. The objection 

 to close grouping is the danger from fire, but facility in doing the 

 work may be an offset to this. A number of small unrelated build- 

 ings gives a " cluttered up " appearance, as shown in figure 21. 



WALKS AND DRIVES. 



The entrance to the farmstead from the public road is one of the 

 most important details of the plan and one of the most difficult 

 to treat successfully without underemphasizing it or overdoing it. 

 It should be so located as to facilitate direct and easy access to both 

 house and barn and make the approach to either seem natural and 

 easy, while at the same time appearing to lead primarily to the 



