194 AGRICULTURE. 



THE HOUSE. The house depends for its attractiveness not 

 upon what it is made of stone, brick, wood, logs but upon 

 its form, its situation and its surroundings. In deciding 

 upon the outline of a house both plainness and too much 

 variation and decoration should be avoided. It should, if 

 possible, face towards the south, to see the first of spring and 

 the last of autumn ; it should be near enough to the road to 

 bring passing vehicles and traffic within range, and yet not 

 right on or against the road. If possible, from the front there 

 should be a pleasant outlook or landscape. It should stand 

 on rising ground, so that there will be perfect drainage away 

 from it, and no possibility of any drainage towards it. 



Having selected a good site, we begin with the house, and, 

 of course, start with the cellar. This should extend under the 

 whole house, otherwise some of the rooms may be damp at 

 times. The cellar should be deep enough so that one can 

 walk about in all parts of it erect ; it should have a concrete 

 floor, and a well-laid drain from it to keep it dry. Have 

 windows on all sides, so that the whole cellar can be kept well 

 aired. If it can be arranged, have a root-cellar apart from the 

 house, say in one corner of the garden. All this means a little 

 extra expense, but damp, musty cellars and decaying roots 

 result in sickness, sometimes in death, and the cost of a good 

 cellar will be money well invested. 



The arrangement of the rooms in the house is a matter 

 largely of choice. There should be a large kitchen, a pantry, 

 a dining-room, and a parlor on the ground floor. There 

 should be also a reading-room or library or study, in which 

 will be found the best agricultural papers, and at least a small 

 collection of the best agricultural books and reports. Two 

 other things should be provided for, namely, one large bow 

 window for house-plants and a grate for a log fire. The sleep- 

 ing rooms may be on the second floor, and, in addition, there 

 should be a store-room and a bath-room. . 



