THE CULTIVATOR. 
16 S 
FARM HOUSES. 
One of the most important subjects that can arrest the 
attention of our farmers, especially such as have yet to 
provide their farm buildings, is the position, plan, and 
construction of their houses, &c. If every man about to 
build, could have the privilege, or be induced to read 
Mr. Downing’s excellent work on “ Cottage Residen¬ 
ces,” we should feel that there would be much less ne¬ 
cessity for urging the subject of farm buildings upon the 
notice of our readers. As it is, we hope every one who 
is intending to build will look over the matter carefully, 
and consider well what kincrof a house his farm, family, 
location, &c. demand. 
The position ofthe buildings on the farm, with refer¬ 
ence to roads, convenience, or health, is a matter of much 
moment to the farmer. The fashion so prevalent of for¬ 
cing all the buildings into the road, or as near if as pos¬ 
sible, without reference to the condition, or the wants of 
the farm, is a ver} ? great error, and shows a deplorable 
want of taste and judgment. The less a farmer or his fa¬ 
mily has to do with the road, except for necessary pur¬ 
poses, the better for all concerned. It is impossible to 
impart the least degree of elegance, or convey that idea 
of rural retirement so desirable in farm establishments, 
and so easily given where judgment and taste preside 
over the erection of the buildings, to a place where the 
houses, barns, &c., are on the margin of the highway, or 
the space in front does not amount to a yard, but only 35 
inches. There should be convenient and easy access to 
the road; but farther than this, the roads are of little ac¬ 
count in determining the position of the farm buildings, 
and should be treated accordingly. 
Another point should always be well considered in fix¬ 
ing the location of the buildings for the farm; and that 
is the arrangement in such a way as to reduce the farm 
labor as much as possible. If the farm is large, the ex¬ 
tra travel of men and teams, in hauling manures, grain, 
&c., going to and returning from labor, will be very 
much greater where the buildings are fixed at one ex¬ 
tremity, or one corner perhaps, than where their posi¬ 
tion is central, and access from all parts of the farm direct. 
This is particularly the case where the buildings are fixed 
not only at the extremity, but also on the highest part of 
the farm. How often do we see farmers, for the sake of j 
having their houses so near the road that they can hail, 
and have a chat with every passer by, draw all their hay 
and grain to the highest part of their farms, the most 
bleak and uncomfortable point on the premises, summer 
or winter, when perhaps there are positions eligible in 
every respect, and well adapted to the convenience of 
the whole farm. In all calculations with respect to the 
labor of hauling to and from the farm buildings, it must 
be remembered that the quantity drawn to, will exceed 
in quantity or bulk, and consequently in labor, thatdrawn 
from the buildings, by nearly two-thirds. 
Health is another thing which must not be overlooked 
in the location or construction of farm buildings. All 
low, sunken, swampy places should be carefully shun¬ 
ned. They are the sources of malaria, and if not viru¬ 
lent enough to produce fevers and other diseases at once, 
the constitution is not the less surely undermined, and 
predisposed to maladies of every kind. Good, pure wa¬ 
ter, here, is of the first importance, and no expense 
should be considered too great to ensure a permanent and 
ample supply. It should of course have great influence 
in determining the position of the farm buildings; and 
cannot be overlooked without subjecting the operations 
ofthe farm to great inconvenience, and the health of the 
family to the most serious danger. 
The plan of a farm house is a matter of much conse¬ 
quence. Convenience and comfort are the prime requi¬ 
sites, and should never be overlooked; with these should 
be combined the elegance and taste, so desirable in every 
farm establishment. A large house is not in ordinary ca¬ 
ses necessary; a high house, never. If the house is well 
arranged, much less space is necessary than most seem 
to consider, and it is here that a good plan operates most 
beneficially. A parlor, sitting, or dining room, kitchen 
and bed rooms are necessary on the ground floor; above, 
bed rooms should occupy the principal space. Public 
opinion is fast banishing the huge two story “ shingle 
palaces,” that once were so fashionable as farm houses, 
and the far neater, compact, and comfortable cottage style 
of buildings, is fast taking their places throughout the 
country. This is one of the most cheering indications 
that those who have endeavored to diffuse more correct 
notions on the subject of farm buildings, have not labored 
in vain. Those who wish to consult plans, drawn with 
particular reference to the wants of the country, will 
find many of them in the past volumes of the Cultivator, 
or in the beautiful volumes of Mr. Downing on c: Land¬ 
scape Gardening,” and “ Cottage Residences.” There 
are few if any plans, however, into which, in conse¬ 
quence of particular location, position, size of family 
&c., changes in some respects, may not be advantageous¬ 
ly introduced; but the study of such plans, where they 
are combined with the elevation of the building, and ar 
rangement of the grounds, cannot be otherwise than use - 
ful, as correcting false notions, and aiding the arrival at 
correct decisions. We may here remark that but few 
builders have any idea of what constitutes a tolerable 
farm house. Those in the city, form their plans for the 
city rather than the farm; and those in the country, have 
in general too little acquaintance with the principleJ of 
the art, or are not sufficiently familiar with the great im¬ 
provements made in the construction of farm residences, 
to enable them to meet the wishes of those who desire 
houses in which utility and elegance are united. There 
are, however, some honorable exceptions, as the farm 
buildings in some districts prove; and when once the at¬ 
tention of farmers is directed to this point, where they 
are qualified to form a correct opinion of the buildings 
they need, there can be no doubt that builders competent 
to aid in carrying out their plans will be found. 
In the construction of farm houses, it is important that 
the best materials be selected, and that strength, firmness, 
and durability be consulted in all proceedings. Where 
stone or brick can be conveniently obtained, houses built 
of these materials are doubtless to be preferred. Their 
advantages over those constructed of wood in the ordina¬ 
ry manner are very great. They are not only more du¬ 
rable, but the equality of temperature they afford at all 
seasons, as compared with structures of wood, is favora¬ 
ble to health. In a well constructed house of stone 01 
brick, the saving of fuel is very great, an object of no 
small consequence, where fires of some kind are neces¬ 
sary in our rooms two-thirds of the year. There is one 
serious objection against stone or brick houses, which 
is, tbeir liability to accumulate dampness in the walls, 
thus destroying or discoloring the plaster or paper, and 
rendering them in some instances decidedly damp and 
unwholesome. This objection is however, easily obvia¬ 
ted, and the evil prevented, by what is called furring, in 
which the walls are in effect, made double, a space of 
an inch being left between the lath and plaster and the 
brick wall, through which air circulates, rendering the 
interior part, or the plastering, perfectly dry. Conveni¬ 
ence is the great point to which other things must be 
made subservient in the construction of farm buildings; 
show is but a secondary consideration. In our climate 
too, reference must be had to preserving a comfortable 
temperature during our severe winters; a result to be 
obtained by a choice of location for the buildings, by a 
proper arrangement and position of the rooms to be oc¬ 
cupied by the family, and by such a construction as shall 
exclude the direct admission of the external atmosphere. 
Experience abundantly proves that so far as the comfort 
and the health of the family is concerned, no room occu¬ 
pied by them, should open directly upon the outer air. 
By connecting them with halls, abrupt transitions from 
heat to cold, and vice versa, are avoided, and consequent 
illness frequently prevented. Ample means for ventila¬ 
tion, and the free circulation of air, should always be 
provided, a precaution necessary to health, and indispen¬ 
sable in the sultry months of an American summer. We 
hope that every farmer who intends building, will look 
at the matter carefully, consult the wants and capabilities 
of his farm, and while he avoids all ridiculous specula¬ 
tions or imitations, see that his plans combine as far as 
possible, elegance with utility, and simplicity of structure 
with correctness of taste, in the design. 
