FRENCH FARM HOUSES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 145997, 1 December 1917, Page 7

FRENCH FARM HOUSES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In your issue of November 29,’ tlip.ro appeared an Account of the above, which, though correct in some respects, is apt to convey «. wrong impression, as the French farmhouses under normal condition's are by no means unsanitary or unhealthy. The square in the centre certainly is used for depositing manure, hut the liquids are drained, and the manure being 1 usually covered with dry straw, is not offensive. When troops are billeted in them, these conditions are very often quite (Altered. Refuse washing’ water, etc., are thrown in, drains get blocked, and make things look. had. Even then it is seldom that soldiers appear. to suffer in health, and many prefer farmhouse billets to the hutments. The French homesteads under normal conditions are as a. rule admirable, and in spite of the fact that the animals are of necessity, on account of dim ate and methods of farming. housed in buildings close the the dwelling-houses, the .latter are. nevertheless. quite cleanly and benltnr Habitations, and compare favourably with many New Zealand farmhouses. With regard ,to the uses the French put their dogs to. there is nothing that can in any way be regarded as cruel. Tho dogs, which are a heavily built breed, are well adapted to the various purposes to which they are put, and generally the treatment of all animals by the French people is kindly and to be coinmended.—l am. etc,, W.N.S.