FARM BULLETIN No. 8. OCTOBER, 1918 



Housing Farm Help 



By R. S. WHITING, 



Architectural Engineer. 



Good The American farm home has been neglected during 



Housing past years of industrial progress. The American farmer 



Necessary. realizes that home improvements are necessary to make 



life worth while, not only for himself and his family, but 

 for those in his employ. If food will be a large factor in winning the 

 war, it will be necessary to give as careful consideration to the housing 

 of farm laborers as it has been to the housing of shipbuilding or munition 

 workers. 



Farm and The relation of the industrial worker to his employer is 



Industrial far different from that of the farm hand to the farmer, 



Workers. consequently the methods of supplying living needs and 



comforts to the latter must be considered from an entirely 

 different angle. The industrial worker rarely if ever comes in personal 

 contact with those by whom he is employed and is left more or less upon 

 his own resources as far as home accommodations and living are con- 

 cerned, except perhaps for some opportunities which may be offered 

 him for housing his family, if he has one, on a rental or purchase basis 

 commensurate with his earnings. 



Proper The farm hand, whether he be married or single, perma- 



Environment. nent or employed merely during harvest season, is de- 

 pendent largely upon the living conditions and atmos- 

 phere created by the farmer himself. This does not mean that enter- 

 tainment such as is found in the towns shall be provided, but attractive, 

 practical living accommodations. Farm hands appreciate quarters 

 where they may be comfortable during leisure hours or in times of 

 forced idleness and where they may enjoy some measure of privacy and 

 independence. 



Changed With college education for children, automobiles, and 



Conditions. greater familiarity with the conveniences of city life, the 

 farmer has learned the difference between living and 

 existing. These changed conditions from the old days are apparent 

 to the farm hands as well as to the farmer himself, and unless the former 

 are permitted to enjoy them in some degree they become restless and 

 uneasy, thereby reducing their permanency, efficiency, and value to 

 the farm. 



Attract The war has taken the majority of unmarried men so 



Married Men. that the farmer must depend largely upon married men, 

 most of whom however make more capable and depend- 

 able workers. To attract this type of men, especially if they have fam- 

 ilies, suitable living accommodations must be furnished them. Make a 

 home for these people with proper surroundings a strip of land on 

 which to garden and raise chickens and you are doing a service not 



Three 



