328 ENGINEERING ON THE FARM 



first floor, or of brick or stucco on the first story and shingles 

 above. The so-called half-timbered effect of stucco, as well 

 as shingles, is not to be recommended, as this furnishes 

 opportunity for driving rain to find its way through to the 

 interior wall surface. The architectural features above 

 mentioned will add very little to the original cost of the 

 house and will afford daily satisfaction and seldom fail to 

 return their added original cost when a sale of the property 

 is made. 



The roof should not be too steep. If valleys are elimi- 

 nated, a one-fourth to one-third pitch will be found alto- 

 gether satisfactory. The roof projection can be made large 

 — 30 or 36 inches, instead of the usual 18 or 20. It is poor 

 building policy to install windows of a tall, narrow variety. 

 It has been the practice to cover the upper half of the win- 

 dow with a window shade. This effectively eliminates the 

 light from the upper half of the window. Economy of glass 

 surface may be accomplished by wide, low windows placed 

 in multiple or triple, large panes of glass thus being elimi- 

 nated. The effect of this feature on the appearance of the 

 house is really surprising. 



A front porch has always been considered a feature of 

 importance to a dwelling. It should be located where it 

 will furnish the greatest degree of comfort to the occupants. 

 As the latter part of the day is practically the only time when 

 the average householder can occupy his porch, one on the 

 south and west sides is of little value. It should appear 

 on the east or north and east sides. A kitchen porch, 

 screened in summer and glassed in winter, is a great con- 

 venience. It is an ideal place for the refrigerator and 

 prevents the entrance of flies. In winter it acts as a direct 

 shelter and also diminishes the loss of heat occasioned by 

 the opening of the kitchen door. It also catches a consid- 

 erable quantity of the mud and snow that would otherwise 

 be tracked into the kitchen, and it may have a place pro- 

 vided for working clothes. 



