96 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
PLANS OF FARM BUILDINGS. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —Within are some plans, which, though not done 
in an artist’s waj^, and void of accuracy in detail, may yet suit the convenience of some 
of your thousand patrons, or suggest arrangements to mature a happier system of their 
own. I have endeavored to adapt them to the circumstances of a majority of your 
readers, both as regards their farming interests and personal estate. The poor (in 
funds,) will want a poorer; the rich a more ostentatious dwelling; and the disputatio 
de gustibus w'ill furnish sundry other malcontents. 
Ground Plan of all the Buildings .— (Fig. 45.) 
First is the ground plan of all the buildings proposed, (fig. 45.) Entering by the 
porch at the extreme left of the diagram, we find a hall lighted from the W’est, With 
a flight of stairs leading to three good sized chambers. A door at the right, opening 
upon a snug library or parlor, or business room; immediately before the entrance we 
open upon the sitting room—the dining room, in short, the family room, the farmer’s 
sine qua non. To the left, are passages to the library or parlor again, to closet, and 
through back entry to bed room. Before opens the way to kitchen. Passing out of 
the kitchen to the left, we enter upon the porch, running the length of kitchen and 
dwelling; following on to the rig'ht, and turning to left, we enter a spacious wood 
house. Through this we reach the door to kettle room, (the eye must follow the 
plan as well as exposi,) and the potatoe cellar, with a little slide window. Ascending 
(steps are marked on chart,) to the farther end from that on which we entered, we 
nnd ourselves on a rude veranda, formed by the projecting eaves of the poultry house 
Barn, Out Buildings, and part of Dairy, from the west.—(Fig. 46.) 
and granary; along this, doors open upon hens, eggs, and grain; while on tire other 
side, below you by three or four feet, are the pigs again. The cutting room claims 
attention next. It surely is not far to carry fodder to horses and oxen on either side, 
and it is lighted by good sized window over top of sty, which, by the waj^, isaleanto 
which is attached to barn. Upon the barn floor is a trap door, and above it a slight 
tackle; the trap door opens upon a mammoth cellar for roots, and the tackle brings 
them to the mouths of hearty beeves. But on, by gang-way to extreme end of barn, 
we pass stalls on left, and bay to the right, under edge of which is an opening to the 
rack in the open cellar below, to throw fodder to the young stock. Passing down a 
step or two at end of gang-way and through large shed, we come upon another gang¬ 
way, (built to walk on,) on one side of which is a rack under an open shed, on the 
other a bay. Passing up a step or two at the end, is a dOor to shearing room; above 
it a lathed and plastered wool room, (and I should have remarked, that over the kettle 
room is a grand large work shop.) Out at the front of this temple of fleeces, and we 
are on the ground again, and with a glance at some well built sheds, whose outline is 
on the plan, for tools, carts, etc. Look at my picture of them, (fig. 46,) barn and all 
from where you stand. 
Passing along a smooth graveled way, by dairy and kitchen and all, see again a 
view of the house in perspective, .(fig. 47.) 
View of House from the southwest. — (Fig. 47.) 
Plan of Buildings and Grounds. — (Fig. 48.) 
A word as to specifications and estimates. The first, further than I have given by 
my outlines, I consider useless, as each one’s need will sug’gest deviations from any 
rule laid down. All that is essential to the unity of the plan is the preservation of 
correct proportions. The eye of taste will guide in this matter; the eye without taste, 
will never see the lack of precision. Let those wishing fuller specifications, first re¬ 
solve the dilemma. 
The estimate could be made, but how should it be made? For brick, stone, wood, 
stuccoed, plain or ornamented? Shall it be made in view of the superintendence of 
an intelligent proprietor, saving, by a thousand means, what to the indifferent would 
swell the outlay by thousands? $2,500 would finish the buildings enumerated cheaply, 
-$3,500 well,—and $5,500 elegantly. Nearer than this, in view of contingencies, it 
is impossible to come. 
The style of building will admit of much more cheapness, consistent with beauty, 
than an ordinary farm-house; and it will admit of an ornateness, in the hands of taste 
and wealth, to please the most lavish. The poor man may corer the chestnut of the 
frame, taken from his own grove, with plain boards, well battoned; within, he may 
lath and plaster, cheap as lime and sand. The wealthy may hang black oaken wain- 
scotings, wrought into the rich forms of Gothic wildness—arching his polished jambs 
crowning his doors with vine leav’es; without, he may have hewn stone labels, and 
elegantly cut tracery, and oriel windows of many colored glass, with all the et ceteras 
that blend so gloriously in the old abbeys (I have seen their portraits,) of olden time. 
The advantages of the plan laid down are, first, that the house and yard are effectu¬ 
ally protected from cold winds by the out buildings; and there is a most gracious 
shelter from northeasters about the kitchen door. Secondly, every cool breeze of 
summer has full play upon the east, west, and south of dw'elling. The effluvia and 
noise, and offensive sights of barn yard, are effectually shut off frorn the house, though 
near enoug’h for every convenience. The maid may empty her swilh (I Idie 
the Saxonj) without wetting a stray lock or a dainty slipper. The farmer, too, in 
sickness or in storm, may see to the health and provisions of eyeiy amnial, without 
encountering the weather. The wood house is in grateful contiguuy with the kitch¬ 
en; the pisrgery, with potatoes and kettle; the shop overhead takes advantage of the 
chimney for a winter day’s work. The poultry yard is near the piggery, the cattle 
yard, the granary, and (best of all) the cook; the granary is convenient to the pigs, 
the poultry, the horse and the cattle. . , jy, • 
A word in anticipating objections. ’‘The house is top near tne noise and effluvia 
of the barnyard.” I plead guilty in a measure; but on reference to the plan, it will 
be seen that the wood house and shop, and lane, intervene, and prevent all unpleasant 
connection. Again, summer winds blow in general (in tnis climate,) from the dwell¬ 
ing, carrying in opposite direction disagreeable effluvia. But_ atter e 
who is ashamed of his cattle yard, or its odors, had best set his house 
croodly distance indeed! »But the buildings are too mosely 
prove disastrous.” True, but get insured, and keep insured. 
the policy. 
Salem, Conn., 1843. 
united 
Industry 
D. G. 
all, the farmer 
from them a 
a fire would 
will pay for 
Mitchell. 
