144 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
AN ORNAMENTAL FARM HOUSE.— (Fig. 81 .) 
Copied by permission, from Mr. Downing’s new work on “Cottage Residences.”] 
Irr designing- this farm house, we have had two objects in view; first, to offer to the 
large class of intelligent farmers, a plan of a house of moderate size, somewhat adapted 
in internal accommodation to their peculiar wants: and secondly, to give to the exte¬ 
rior, at little additional cost, some architectural beauty. The first object, it is evi¬ 
dent, must ever be the principal one in a farmer's dwelling, and therefore everything 
should yield to such an interior arrang-ement, as will give the greatest amount of com¬ 
fort, and the maximum of convenience, in performing in-door labor. But beyond 
this, there is no reason why the dwelling- houses of our respectable farmers should not 
display some evidences of taste, as well as those of professional men, or persons in 
more affluent circumstances. The farmers are really the most independent men in our 
community, as their wealth is less liable to fluctuation than that of any other class; and 
if the amount which they wish to expend upon a dwelling, be less than that within the 
means of others, they are g-enerally able, on the other hand, by having abundance of 
stone or timber on their own premises, to build at a greatly reduced cost. By be¬ 
stowing some degree of ornament on farm houses, we shall hope to increase the in¬ 
terest and attachment, which the farmer and his family have for their home, and there¬ 
by to improve his social and domestic state. A man who is content to live in a clumsy, 
badly contrived, and uncouth habitation, will generally be found to care little for his 
home, or to have in his heart but a scanty flow of genial domestic sympathies. This 
love of home, and with it all the tender affections bound up in that endearing word, 
will be sure to grow with every step we take to add to its comforts, or increase its 
beauty; and if we feel a species of affection for the goodly trees we have planted, 
which, growing along with us, seem like old and familiar friends, we must acknowl¬ 
edge a still greater attachment to a dwelling that we have built, and which becomes 
our own home, whether it be a cottage or a mansion, if there is an air of taste lurking 
about it, and breathing out from vine covered porch or open window casement. 
We are especially anxious that the farmer should cultivate a taste for improving his 
home, including under this term his dwelling, and his garden or grounds, as we are 
confident that in so doing he will unconsciously open to himself and his family new 
sources of enjoyment, beyond such as are directly derived from their beauty and con¬ 
venience. It is unquestionably true, that we learn to appreciate the beauty of nature, 
in proportion as we become familiar with the beauty of art. Now, although we do 
not expect farmers to possess a gallery of pictures or statuary, yet they have a scarce¬ 
ly less instructive field open to them while tastefully disposing their g-ardens and 
grounds, in studying the various developments of beauty that occur, and become fa¬ 
miliar to the mind in these, and all other employments, unfolding the order and har¬ 
mony of a well regulated home. And we will venture to assert, that no person, how¬ 
ever small his original knowledge, has followed these occupations thoughtfully for 
half a dozen years, without having his appreciation of the beauty of all nature, and es¬ 
pecially the beauty of trees, forests, hills, and rivers, a thousand fold increased. 
(Fig. 82.) 
By referring to the plan of the principal floor, Fig. 82, it will be seen that the main 
building, 30 by 46 feet, is two stories in height, and contains on this floor, a hall, a 
parlor, two bedrooms, and a large pantry. The parlor, or sitting room, is an excel¬ 
lent apartment, suitable for any occasion, and the pantry being placed between it and 
the kitchen, either of these rooms may be used to dine in; while the passage, with 
two doors between the parlor and the kitchen, prevents the noise of the latter from 
being heard in the former. 
The kitchen, wash-house, dairy, and wood-house, on the same level with the main 
building, are contained in an L-form addition in the rear, one story in height. The 
kitchen is 16 feet square, and opens also by a back door, upon a broad stone platform, 
under which the steps next the main building descend to the cellar. The wash-room 
is 16 feet square, and has by the side of the fire-place a circular copper boiler set, for 
SO 
gables 
boiling the clothes. There is a passage from the wash-room, communicating direct- 
y with the wood-house. The dairy may, if it is thought advisable, be sunk three 
eet below the level of the wash-house, and paved with flag stones, in order to keep 
it cool; and there may be a raised shelf of stone all around it, on which to place pans 
of milk. In this case, it would be entered by descending four or five steps. The 
wood-house has a large door, to facilitate unloading from the wood wagons. 
The plan of the second story, Fig. 83, affords 
three good bedrooms, closets, &e., and a small 
bedroom; and above this story, is an ample garret 
for drying various seeds and vegetables. 
The cellar is large, being of the same size as the 
main building, and on the side next the carriage 
road, should be placed a slide, wide enough to re¬ 
ceive a cart load of roots, which will save much 
labor and time usually occupied in carrying them 
in baskets. 
This dwelling is supposed to be constructed of 
rough stone, or stone partially smooth on the face, 
but not laid in regular courses. Such stone is 
abundant throughout a great portion of the United 
States and make excellent walls. 
We have given the preference to the Rural. Gothic 
style in composing the exterior of this dwellin 
partly on account of the large lofts or garrets 
useful to the farmer, afforded by the steep 
and roofs, and partly on account of its intrinsic 
beauty and picturesque effect when built of stone 
even in this simple manner. We have introduced 
a veranda in the same style in front, because such 
a feature is as necessary to the comfort of a farm¬ 
house as a villa, in this country. 
Where all the out-buildings are to be erected at the same time with the dwelling 
house, something of the same style should be evinced in their construction. It is not 
necessary to attain this, that ornamental verge boards, or windows, or other minor de¬ 
tails, should be introduced in barns or the like structures, but it will be sufficient if 
attention be paid to repeating the same general forms in the outlines of the buildings, 
and of these the form of the roof or gables is most essential. 
In some districts, wood is the only material which comes within reach of the farm¬ 
er. When this is the case, it would be better to adopt another style for the exterior, 
of a lighter character. We would recommend the simple projecting roof, and the 
general style of Design I., omitting some of the ornamental details. The arrangement 
of the rooms would require no material alteration, whatever style of architecture may 
be adopted for the exterior; and a farmhouse built in the plainest manner, preserving 
the arrangement exactly, would still have all the merit of this part of the design, of 
whatever value it may be considered. 
It is evident that to some families another parlor, or a common eating room, but lit¬ 
tle superior to the kitchen, might be thought desirable. This would be easily obtained 
by converting the rear bedroom into a dining room, and keeping the parlor, (which is 
now intended to serve the purpose of dining room also,) as a show apartment, or best 
room. Such a plan might suit the fancy of those who take pleasure in keeping the 
best and most comfortable room in their house shut, except when they see strangers, 
but we cannot recommend it as consonant with good taste and that unaffected, genuine 
hospitality, which ought to characterize “ plain country folks.” 
Details of construction. —The construction of this building will 
by merely inspecting the elevation, as it is extremely simDle. 
board and cornice are shown more in de¬ 
tail, to the scale of $> inch to a foot. In 
this, A, is the front view of the top of the 
gable, and B, the profile or section of the 
same. P, is the pendant which perforates 
the ridge of the roof, and terminates the® 
gable by what is termed a hip knob, orE 
finial. The roof, in this design, projectsfl 
about a foot beyond the walls of the house. || 
The veranda is supported by octagonal 
posts or pillars, the openings between I* 
which, are ornamented at the top by single 
arches cut from two inch plank. All the || 
exterior wood-work of this building, (ex- 
be easily understood 
In Fig. 84, the verge 
cept sashes and doors,) should be painted 
three coats of the same color as the v ' 
or a few shades lighter, and sanded, 
Estimate. —The cost of this building, 
supposing the stone to be found on the farm, i 
and all the materials to be drawn by the 
farmer, will not exceed $1700. 
The Ferme Ornce, or ornamental portion of the farm. 
T heferme orn'e is a term generally applied to a farm, the whole or greater part of 
which is rendered in some degree ornamental, by intersecting it with drives, and pri¬ 
vate lanes and walks, bordered by trees and shrubs, and by the neater arrangement 
and culture of the fields. But it may also be applied to a farm with a tasteful farm 
house, and so much ©f the ground about it rendered ornamental, as would naturally 
meet the eye of a stranger, in approaching it the first time. 
It is evident that the farm proper, in the present case, may consist of 50 or 500 acres. 
We have only shown in the annexed engraving, Fig. 85, a plan of a few acres imme- 
mediately surrounding the house, and consisting of the entrance lawn a, about one and 
a quarter acres, bordering the entrance road or approach b; the orchard c, the kitchen 
garden d, adjoining fields, in grass or under the plow e, and the yard for the out¬ 
buildings/. 
At g, is shown the house, and in the rear of the kitcken, wash-house, &c. is the 
kitchen yard h. The out-buildings, or farmery, are arranged around three sides of a 
square, open to the south, and consist of the piggery j, the tool-house communicating 
with the garden k, open shed for carts, plows, &c., I, cow-house with three calf-pens 
attached at the end m, barn n, stable for horses o, wagon house p, and corn crib q. 
The surface of the yard descends slightly on all sides to the centre f, whore the ma¬ 
nure heap is kept. This collection of out-buildings is much more complete and ex- 
teusive, than will be found connected with most farms in this country, but we have 
given it, with the view of exhibiting what ought to be aimed at as a desideratum in 
accommodation, on every extensive farm, and it will be found easy to diminish the 
amount of buildings and sheds, to as many as would occupy only one side of the yard, 
if the farm be small, or to such a number as can be afforded. 
This plan will require but little description, as the ornamental grounds have no in¬ 
tricacy of detail. The effect of the view from the house across the entrance lawn a, 
would be pleasing, and its expression would be that of simply natural, or pastoral 
beauty. The trees might be of the finest native species, selected from the woods on 
the farm, as nothing is more beautiful than our fine drooping Elms, Tulip trees, Oaks, 
