648 THE COMPLETE GRAZIKlt. BOOK vin. 



the system of farming adopted, that this is not the place to enter fully 

 into the details of plan and construction, but merely to mention a few 

 points which should be borne in mind, especially remembering that the 

 farm-house is the centre of the farmer's operations. 



Perhaps, before arranging the site of the farm-house, the position of 

 the farm-homestead should be decided upon, for if the most convenient 

 place for this is determined, it will also be the most suitable for the 

 farmer to reside at ; but as the position of the homestead will be 

 discussed in due course, this is only by the way. A somewhat 

 elevated position will be found most healthy; it should be well drained, 

 and will be all the better if the soil is porous. A good supply of water 

 is very necessary. The house should overlook the homestead, not to 

 encourage the occupant to farm " indoors," but so that in case of his 

 absence others may see that affairs are progressing properly outside. 

 Still, it is desirable that the house should not be too close to the 

 homestead, in case of fire, or lest unpleasant odours should find their 

 way in from the live stock. Every farm-house should have a room to 

 be set apart as an office, in which the farmer may keep his accounts, 

 receive business visitors, store medicines, special seeds, and various 

 necessaries. The room may be small, but it is very essential that 

 there should be some such apartment as this entirely set apart for the 

 master. There can be but little doubt that the lax way in which many 

 men carry on their business is greatly due to the want of a convenient 

 place in which to transact it, for it is almost impossible to attend 

 properly to business in an ordinary living-room, where frequent inter- 

 ruptions are well-nigh unavoidable. The dairy, if it forms part of the 

 house, should be placed in a cool situation, and on no account allowed 

 to be used as a pantry or larder. Milk absorbs taint and odour so 

 freely, that nothing should be permitted in the dairy but milk and pure 

 air : unfortunately it is too often used for other purposes. 



There are few points so much neglected in the construction of farm- 

 houses as the convenience of the inhabitants. The facility and the 

 pleasure of carrying on many of the operations of husbandry depend on 

 a judicious arrangement of the abode of the farmer. 



The house and the offices should be of a size and on a scale adapted 

 to the produce of the farm. In planning the house, both the comfort 

 and pecuniary interest of the master require that the kitchen shall not 

 be a thoroughfare ; nor should any house-door open directly into it, 

 with the exception of the mistress's store-room, which should adjoin it 

 and be connected with it. This will save her many a step in the 

 course of every day. The ground floor should contain a good parlour 

 and kitchen, and attached to the latter a back kitchen, which may 

 serve the occasional purpose of a bakehouse and brewhouse. A 

 pantry, and some place that can be used as a cellar, must not be 

 forgotten. It is essential for the ground to be raised a foot or eighteen 

 inches above the outside level, as this will contribute much both to 

 cleanliness and to health. The best way to secure this is to raise the 

 timbers of the ground floor above the ground level by having the 

 house approached by two steps ; or, preferably, by three. 



