CHAPTER 9 



FARM BUILDINGS, FENCES AND GATES 



Farm buildings should be located and constructed with a view of 

 meeting the needs of the farm and farmer's family. They should harmonize 

 with the natural surroundings and have sufficient room for the housing of 

 the farm animals, equipment and the storage of forage, grain and such other 

 crops as may be grown. The number, character and size will be determined 

 by the size of the farm and the type of farming. They should be as fully 

 adapted to the type of farming as possible. Upon the plan of the farm, 

 the arrangement of the farmstead and its position on the farm depends 

 to a large extent the farmer's success. 



The Farm Residence. With some farmers the housing of the live- 

 stock is considered of more importance than the housing of the farmer and 

 his family. Where capital is very limited and the farmer is accustomed to 

 an exceedingly simple life, this may prove advantageous for a short time, 

 in order to get a start. At the present time and in most localities, the 

 housing of the farmer and his family properly receives first consideration. 

 The farm residence should be the most important building of the farm. 

 It should occupy a conspicuous place in the farmstead and bear a convenient 

 relationship to the other buildings of the farm. There is more latitude 

 relative to the direction the farm house should face than there is in case of 

 the city house. This feature should be carefully considered in the construc- 

 tion of the house, the position of verandas and the location of the living 

 rooms. Size of windows and the entrance of sunlight should also be con- 

 sidered in this connection. 



The foundation and the roof of the house are two important features. 

 These should be constructed with reference to durability and strength as 

 well as appearance. The height of the house or the height of the rooms 

 may be increased with little additional cost, since this will increase the cost 

 of neither foundation nor roof. There is little excuse, however, for tall 

 houses in the country. Land is cheap and comparatively low structures 

 harmonize better with country surroundings. 



It pays to paint a farm residence thoroughly immediately after its 

 construction, and to re-paint whenever paint is needed. Paint lengthens the 

 life of a house and makes it warmer. Light colors are generally preferred 

 for country dwellings. The smoke and dirt which make bright colors 

 impracticable and expensive in cities are not present in the country. Such 

 colors harmonize with the green foliage that should surround a country 

 residence. On new lumber, the first or priming coat should be mixed very 

 thinly and applied promptly after the house is constructed. At the time 



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