THE FARMER'S ENVIRONMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3016, 3 January 1912, Page 14

THE FARMER'S ENVIRONMENT.

One of the greatest difficulties of farm life is the want of sufficient pleasure and enjoyment to make the life so attractive as to keep young men on the farms. Their interest in the work of the farm must be encouraged in every way, and in many cases it is the fault of the parents who fail to realise the desire of young men to have a settled income which they can call thenown that drives them to the allurements of the city. They would, be ever so much happier with some interest in the farm or portion of it to themselves absolutely. If their hobbies also were encouraged, whether profitable or not, they would be much more contented at home, and make better, farmers later on. As a rule there is not much mirth and social enjoyment in the home after a day of strenuous manual labour, but a good' hearty laugh would shake up some of the musty cobwebs and do nothing but good. Serious results may accrue from leaving all mirth and social enjoyment on the doorstep. If buoyant spirits are not repressed, the remembrance of many a care and trouble will be blotted out, and the best shield young people can take with them into the world is the influence of a bright and happy homo. How necessary is it, therefore, that the homestead should be something better than a barn? As a rule the kitchen of the farmhouse is the living room, and should be made comfortable. The family usually gathers round the kitchen fire at night, when the children learn their lessons, while the elders discuss the proceedings of the past day ; and usually there is also a best room, which is hermetically sealed to exclude dust and incidentally fresh air, and frequently gets into a clammy, unhealthy state. Let us see in what respects some improvements on the usual farmhouse may be made without seriously affecting its cost. There is no reason in a new structure why utility should mean ugliness, and the house may from the first be designed so that it shall be attractive to its inhabitants by its picturesqucncss. The architecture need not be elaborate, but it ought to make a man and his wife proud of their home, and take such interest in it as to have a neat garden surrounding it. A few climbers on the northern exposure of the walls will not make them damp., and some ornamental shrubs and trees p'lanted in such a way as to cover up defects will have the effect of transforming a house into a home. There are other features which may be regarded as small in themselves, but of the utmost importance even if the house requires to be altered so as to provide them. One of these is to admit abundance of light into the rooms. The rays of the sun are deadly to the lurking microbe, and it is astonishing how light adds to the cheerfulness and health of the room. If for no other use, it exposes the übiquitous dust which, when seen, is removed. The result is a more cheerful homo, with healthier inhabitants, better tempers, and better spirits all round, largely due to capacious windows, which open and close without difficulty. Another thing is the admittance of fresh air into the rooms. With low ceilings and closely-shut windows, the cubic space for air is very limited, and stuffiness and discomfort result when a few people are gathered together. Good-sized well-lighted rooms make for good health and freedom from chills, and a little enterprise and energy in this direction adds to the value of the farm, and reacts by improving both the farmer’s health and self-respect, and that of everyone connected with him.