September, Ig11 
REMODELING HOUSES 
HALL we build or remodel? This is a question that 
has more than one answer. It is the general impres- 
sion that an old house can be bought and remodeled 
for a smaller sum than a new house can be built. This is a 
fallacy. It is true, there are many houses that can be pur- 
chased for a small sum which were built long ago, in the time 
when buildings were put together to stay and made of ma- 
terials that were more than sufficient to hold their own 
against the ravages of time. But, in order to adapt these 
buildings to present-day requirements, repairing a broken 
spot here, altering a staircase, introducing modern plumbing 
and lighting fixtures, one is required to spend so much that 
in nine cases out of ten he will find it more costly to remodel 
the old house than to build a new one. But is it possible 
to reproduce the architectural style, the picturesque setting 
and the general atmosphere of a quaint old home? Some 
recent work gives an emphatic affirmative answer to the 
question. But the task is not easy, and everything depends 
upon the architect and an intelligent co-operation upon the 
part of the owner. 
Advice on the question of building or remodeling will be 
found in an article in the October number of AMERICAN 
Homes anp GARDENS. A number of illustrations show 
how new houses may be given the charm and atmosphere of 
the old homestead, and how dilapidated old buildings may 
be reconstructed and remcdeled to suit a present-day owner. 
A story is published of an old farmhouse that persisted as 
a weed in a neighborhood of modern high-priced up-to- 
date buildings. No one wanted the old house; it had no 
gas, no electricity, no city water, and not even a furnace; 
but the surroundings were very picturesque, and it capti- 
vated a man, who purchased it, and by a course of radical 
treatment converted it into a quaint mansion. ‘This story is 
illustrated with pictures of the building before and after 
undergoing the process of remodeling. In this connection, 
the October number contains another article on converting 
garden landmarks, such as smoke-houses, spring-houses, and 
the like, into studios, workshops and music-rooms. By way 
of illustration, there is the description of an old tumble- 
down structure that had nothing to recommend it which 
was actually converted into a very attractive artist’s studio 
that is the envy of surrounding estates. 
THE SMALL MOTOR ON THE FARM 
HE man who thinks that the farmer of to-day has 
shown no progress over the farmer of a hundred 
years ago is himself not up to date. We are making 
rapid strides in agricultural matters. Farmers are no 
longer content to do their work by hand, or even by horse- 
power. They know the value of the gasoline engine and 
the electric motor, and while electricity on the farm is still 
in its infancy, internal combustion engines are being very 
largely used. The time is not far distant when electric 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
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motors will be used to a considerable extent. Electrical en- 
gineers of this country are beginning to investigate the 
farms, and are urging central stations in the suburban towns 
to extend their lines to the rural districts. [here are a 
number of estates which have their own electric plants, 
generating sufficient power to perform much of the tedious 
work of former days in an expeditious and very economical 
way. A practical discussion of this subject is contained in 
our next issue. 
BAYBERRY DIPS 
HE present fad of reviving old-time customs seems to 
have neglected the “‘bayberry dips” of our fore- 
fathers. It is doubtful whether many readers of 
AMERICAN Homes AND GARDENS know what a bayberry 
dip is. The bayberry bush, which grows in abundance along 
the Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to Florida, and also 
on the shores of Lake Erie, bears in the autumn a wax-like 
berry. ‘‘Myrtle-wax,” obtained from this berry, is not used 
to any considerable extent now, but at one time was the 
staple material from which most of the candles of our 
grandmothers were made. ‘The fragrance of the wax is 
its chief charm. It used to be then the custom to blow out 
one of the candles at the “‘light-stand,” so that the fragrant 
smoke, curling up from the wax, would fill the room with 
perfume. It would be well to revive this old-time candle, 
particularly at Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas 
time. Just how the candle can be made will be explained 
next month, when the berries are ripe for picking. 
CURIOUS GOURDS AND MELONS 
HE French gardener no doubt leads the world in his 
ability to produce a very respectable crop on a back- 
yard plot. The intensive culture methods of the 
French should prove of great interest to us, particularly at 
the present time, for we are beginning to learn the value of 
economical methods. A novel gourd and melon farm is 
described in the next issue, in which the French method of 
forcing early growths is explained. Squashes and pump- 
kins are started under bell glass, thus producing an early 
season crop. At this farm not only are the edible gourds 
raised, but some very peculiar ones for purely ornamental 
purposes. 
AGRICULTURAL EXPOSITION IN NEW YORK 
EW YORK is about as far removed from the agricul- 
tural center of the United States as any city within 
our borders. Yet here, in November, there is to be 
held a great national land and irrigation exposition which 
promises to eclipse any previous exhibitions of this character. 
By bringing the farmer and his work into a personal touch 
with our largest commercial center, not only will he be 
benefited, but a lesson will be taught to the city man as well 
on the dignity of the countryman’s profession. 
