ARCHITECTURE. The architecture of the farm is generally of the simplest kind, and em braces dwellings, barns and stables for the vari ous animals and birds kept; also green-houses, conservatories, hot-houses, and the simple frames used in forcing plants. In all farm structures, the object should be to combine as much prac tical utility with strength as may be possible. Where the pecuniary means of the individual will allow, ornamentation may be extended ac cording to the length of the purse. The subject is too broad to be exhaustively treated in a work of this kind. Thus we shall only notice some of the more simple forms of dwellings here, but, under their appropriate heads, will give instrue tions for the more simple farm buildings, which see. The new settler must be content with the crudest structure until his means will allow him to build better. Thus, a log house where tim ber is handy, afford the means of a most com fortable dwelling. Straight logs, of a nearly uni form size and of equal lengths, are selected. These may be hewed square, or the two sides— outer and inner—may be hewn straight. The under side of the logs are then notched, eight or ten inches from the end, and the upper sides scarfed to fit, so the bark will come just near enough together to meet without riding one on another. They are then laid up, chinked when necessary, with slabs, which are pinned or nailed. The interstices are then stopped with clay or mortar. At the proper htight from the ground for the ceiling, poles, hewed to a size of four by eight, are let into the logs to form the floor. This is covered with flooring, or in lieu of that with puncheons—slabs split out of free rifted timber and hewn into planks. The lower floor is usually laid on timbers placed directly on the leveled ground. The supports for the roof are made of rafters hewed fair on one side; a ridge-pole is laid on the top, and the supports for the shingles are placed at proper intervals. The shingles are generally made three feet long, split out of free rifted timber, and are nailed or held in place by straight poles pinned clown at proper intervals. Thus we have the simplest structure possible, in a timbered country, combining strength with warmth in winter, and coolness in summer. The window and door places are then cut out and the casings put in, ready for the doors and windows. A space is then eut out at one end for a fire-place, six feet wide and five feet high; or calculation may be made for this and also the doors and windows when the logs are hewn. To do this, however, the measure ments must be accurate; there must be no guess work. In time, the log cabin, the Kansas dug out or the rough shanty gives place to a dwelling where taste and comfort are combined with prac tical utility. Mistakes are too often made in the endeavor to have something showy and stylish. A farm house should be in keeping with its sur roundings, unless money is to be spent to make the surroundings beautiful. A plain, comfort able house is more in harmony with the ordinary farm surroundings than an expensive building with all bare or semi-wild outside. A house should be in harmony with the situation. Just as a house and its surroundings exert its influ ence on the family and neighboring inhabitants, just so the lay of the country and the scenery should exert its influence, so the buildings may harmonize. For instance, where there are sharp
hills, ravines, bluffs, broken rocks or mountains, flat roofs, horizontal lines and broad verandas would be out of place. There should be gables and steep roofs to harmonize. In other words, the architectural features of the buildings should be broken to harmonize. There lofty turrets, steep gables and grouped chimneys may mark the dwelling of the man of wealth, while his less plethoric (in purse) neighbors may profit by the example in his modest cottage..On it level plain or in a gently undulating country, such as is characteristic of the greater part of the west, this sty-le of architecture would be out of plaee. The summers are torrid and the winters often arctic. There are often sweeping winds. Hence these must be provided for. The roof should be steep enough to quickly carry off drenching rains. There should be caps to the windows for shade. There must be stability to the whole. Thus the square form, or nearly- so, will not only be economical, but at the same time in good taste with the surroundings. A cottage, with honeysuckles aud morning-glories climbing over the porch and windows, or the log cabin in the woods with vines nestling around it, is mbre truly beautiful than the pretentious mansion with bare walls, weeds and rank grass, muddy or dusty walks and roadways, with, perhaps, a Virginia fence in front to keep out the pigs. In building, always have the best possible cellar the situation will allow. In very many country residenees, a fatal mistake is made in having the walls of the rooms too low. Nine feet below stairs and seven and a half for the chambers is little enough. Ten feet below stairs and eight feet walls for the chambers would be better. Use large glass -for the windows, and have them to slide top and bottom by means of cords and pulleys. Do not build a bracketed house. -Use good sheathing, felting paper and the best siding. If the walls are to be of sound briek, so much the better. Never build a large, infe rior house. It is better to build smaller and substantial. Do not forget the porches and ve randas. They are most comfortable in summer, and give stability to the whole building. Pro vide, also, double or storm windows for the en tire lower part of the house. The extra expense will be repaid the first hard winter. In the spring, these may be taken down and placed where they may be kept dry. The same may be said of the cellar, one of the most important parts of the farm dwelling. This should always have double windows, and also be fur nished with hlinds to darken it at will. If large, it should be divided into compartments, and for the reason that some portions of the cellar are required to be kept warmer than others. When hardy vegetables are to be kept, and canned fruits and vegetables, the temperature should be just above freezing. Squashes, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and half-hardy plants, bulbs and tubers, must be kept where the temperature is dry and of about 50° Fahrenheit. Other apart ments in the cellar may be kept down to the freezing point. Thus, by having the cellar divided as we have shown, convenience and economy may be both preserved.