THE GENESEE FARMER. 



185 



PLAN OF AN OCTAGON HOUSE. 



FIRST FLOOR PLAN. 



Messes. Editoks : — The subject of farm-houses 

 is too much neglected by people, as a matter of 

 study. Attempting to build a house without con- 

 sidering what are the reqi;isites necessary in a con- 

 venient dwelling, is nearly as bad as to attempt to 

 build without tlie aid of carpenter and joiner. I 

 think this a matter of much importance to the farm- 

 ing community, and send you a few hints with a 

 plan of a house, in hopes by so doing to induce some 

 abler hand to take up the subject and do it justice. 

 The outside form of a house is generally tlie first 

 thing to be considered, not that it is of most impor- 

 tance, but because it 

 depends in a great 

 degree on the form 

 Avhether it contains 

 the room necessary 

 to be divided eco- 

 nomically, and at the 

 same time present a 

 uniform outside ap- 

 pearance. I give in 

 the accompanying 

 plan of an Octagon 

 House, a slight pro- 

 jection of five feet on each side, in order to impi'ove 

 the outside appearance, and make the rooms of the 

 proper shape inside, (which is the most diflicult 

 thing to overcome in arranging octagon plans ;) and 

 by placing a veranda around the front, secure an 

 unbroken line on the first story. The roof is com- 

 posed of four gables, placed at right angles, with a 

 dome in the centre to light the staircase hall, which 

 I think an improvement on an eight-sided roof. 



The first story should be ten feet high in the cleai", 

 and the second eight feet. The cellar is divided 

 into four rooms, as I think it is better to have sepa- 

 rate apartments for 

 milk, fruit, vegeta- 

 bles, &c. The main 

 floor is arranged as 

 follows: A. is the 

 dining-room; B. the 

 kitchen ; 0. parlor, 

 D. nursery or bed- 

 room; E. entries; F. 

 hall ; G. bath-room ; 

 H. pantry ; J. closets; 

 d. doors. The second 

 story is divided into 

 four large bed-rooms, with a large closet to each. 

 The cellar may be a perfect octagon, and the pro- 

 jections underpinned, if preferred, Avhich will be 

 less expensive. *>!*** 



SECOND FLOOK PLAN. 



PLAN OF A FARM-HOUSE. 



GROUND FLOOR. 



Editors Genesee Faemer : — The house of which 

 the following is a description Avas built in 1 354, of 

 brick, by the direction of the subscriber, whose 

 wish was to combine plainness, convenience, utility 

 and durability together, Avith the intention of not 

 letting the cost exceed $2000. 



By a reference to the diagram, it Avill be seen 

 that every room can be entered without passing 

 —-—^ — I through another ; and as 

 rrrxiil I doubt not some will 

 object to 'the smallness 

 of the Isitchen, let me 

 observe that its conven- 

 ience to the dining-room 

 is such, that the table is 

 always set in the latter, 

 the kitchen being used 

 only as a cooking room. 

 For a lai'ge family, its 

 size should be extended. 

 Ground Floor. — ] , 

 entrance hall, 7 by 19; 

 2, parlor, IG^by 19; 3, 

 family bed-room, 16^ by 

 19; 4, dining room, 16 

 by 20 ; 5, kitchen, 8 by 10 ; 6, bath-room, 4 by 8 ; 

 7, porch, 6 by 8; 8, passage; 9, pump; 10, oven; 

 11, fire-place; 12, ash-house; 13, wood-house; 14, 

 coal-house. 



Chamber Floor. — 15, passage ; IG, 17, front bed- 

 rooms; 18, 19, back bed-rooms; 20, upper porch, 

 8 by 20. 

 A, A, cupboards; C, clothes-presses. 

 The house fronts the west, which throws the 

 porches and kitchen on the sunny side. The pump, 

 oven, &c., are imdcr a 

 lean-to shed, accessible 

 without stepping from 

 under shelter. A door 

 in the kitchen opens on 

 the cellar steps, which 

 run down under those 

 in the dining-room. — 

 The cellar extends un- 

 der the front of the 

 house, and is divided 

 into two rooms, and 

 paved with brick. chamber floor. 



By keeping an account as the building progressed, 

 I am able to state the cost, which was a trifle over 

 $1,700, counting my own labor, boarding hands, 

 and all except the stone in the quarry and the oak 

 timber in the woods. The pine lumber, of Avhich 

 all the doors, door and window frames, board par- 

 titions, and some of the floors, are made, was hauled 

 from the Ohio river, fourteen miles distant. 



Although this may not be as grand a mansion as 

 some would Avant, yet the subscriber thinks that 

 for real service and comfort it is superior to many 

 which pass for good homes. Geo. Cattell. — N'ear 

 Earrisville^ Harrison Co.^ Ohio. 



Rack for Sheep. — I would say in answer to 

 Edayard Linnet's inquiry concerning racks for 

 feeding cattle, that the one represented in the 

 December No. of the Farmer for 1857, is a very 

 good one. The size can be varied according to the 

 stock. J. 0. Daaves. — LeEaysville, Maij, 1858. 



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