TEXTBOOK OF LANDSCAPE GARDENING 
farm, and last, but not least, the attractive appearance of the entire 
layout. 
Some of the most essential features which must be considered 
in planning the location of a set of farm buildings are (a) size of 
farm, (b) farmed by tenant or owner, (c) probable use as stock, hay, 
grain or general purpose farm, (d) amount to be spent in buildings, 
(e) probable effectiveness of upkeep, (/) probable increase or decrease 
in present size of farm. 
The first choice to be made after the general considerations are 
in mind is that of a proper site for the location of the farm build- 
ings. Because of the close relation which the farmstead bears to 
the usability of the entire farm, the site must be chosen with the 
utmost care. This is usually chosen with reference to the proximity 
to town, school, church and the administrative center of the farm. 
The best location is at one side of the center of the farm and near 
the best public highway. 
A farmstead should have proper air, light and drainage and not 
too much exposure to winds. South and east slopes are the most 
desirable, and a gravel knoll is best for the location of a farmstead 
because of the advantage to be obtained by thorough drainage and 
consequently dry feed-yards at all times. 
For the general purpose farm, the hollow square or rectangular 
system of arrangement of buildings is the most satisfactory. It is 
not unusual to find this system used on the farms of many of the 
best farmers who have given a great deal of thought and care in the 
planning of their farmsteads. The hollow square system, as in- 
dicated by the name, is built up around a hollow square or rectangle 
with buildings on three sides, the fourth side opening upon a public 
highway. : 
In this system we have three groups of buildings viz: — the 
house group, the barn group and the feed group, each dominated 
by the main building in each group, the house, the barn and the 
elevator. Standing in the public highway facing the location of the 
new farmstead, keeping in mind the hollow square with buildings 
148 
