Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/178

 WOMAN'S HOME 1 56 the housewife requires space for drying clothes, even though she may send the bulk of the washing to the laundry. Again, where there are children, garden space is really a necessity. It is true that the tenant of a flat has to forgo this item, but there are few fiat- dwellers who do not pine for some open-air retreat in the summer months, and it may be added that the absence of the garden is one of the greatest drawbacks to flat life, and deters many from adopting it. Side Entrances Where the garden exists, the conveni- ence of a side entrance should not be overlooked. This is almost invariably the accompaniment of a semi-detached house, but not always of the terrace house. The latter is more often provided with an entrance to the garden from a thoroughfare at the back. The disadvantages of this arrangement hardly need be emphasised. It involves the tradespeople traversing the whole length of the garden, thereby destroy- ing its privacy, or, in the alternative, it necessitates the servants making the journey in the reverse direction. Thus far, we have considered the garden solely from the utilitarian standpoint. To a large section of^the community its utilitarian features are eclipsed by its horticultural interest. It is there for the flowers, and a very few square yards of soil suffice to provide a healthful and interesting occupation for one or other member of the household. A well-tilled garden usually is in a more sanitary condition than a neglected one, hence the cult of the flower contributes in a measure to the healthiness of one's surroundings. Gardens which adjoin a school playground, or waste ground, are apt to be invaded by the ubiquitous boy, whose capacity for mischief stops at nothing, and on that account should not be considered, when a second choice is available. Roadway Charges The householder who may contemplate purchasing his house, either immediately or in the future, should ascertain whether the street has been taken over by the local authority. If not, he may be called upon to contribute his share to the cost of " making up " the roadway, which may be anything from los. to 20s. per foot of frontage. Bearing this in mind, he will consider twice before he takes a house on a corner plot, or one with a garden skirting the roadway. Desirable as garden space is for the many reasons above set forth, an excess of it has disadvantages for the tenant of limited means. Garden upkeep entails a certain yearly expenditure, and, if the garden is large, one has to face the alternatives of spending more than one can well afford, or of seeing the garden neglected and unprofitable. Gardens adjoining other gardens are preferable to those which are bounded by buildings, trees, and other obstructions, not only on account of the more open outlook, but also because they obtain more fight and air, and are therefore better conditioned for cultivation. It is well to note just what accommodation is provided for coals, as often this is too scanty to admit of storing more than one quafity of fuel. At least there should be provision for a ton of coal and an equal quantity of coke, with a division for separating the two. If a permanent receptacle is provided for household refuse, it should be of brick, with a cemented floor and an iron door. Outbuildings A garden-tool house is a convenience that is now more generally embodied in the house structure or permanently attached to it, and if not applied to its avowed purpose, it may be used for the storage of bicycles, mailcarts, and other things one likes to keep out of the house. vShould a motor-house be a necessity, then it is well to see that it is not so placed as to be a nuisance. This implies that it should not stand too near the dwelling. Even to the motor enthusiast the odour of the petrol does not blend harmoniously with the savouries at the dining-table. Also it should be seen that the motor- house does not usurp too much of the landscape as seen from the living-room windows. Lastly, it is preferable that the motor- house should stand on that side of the house remote from the Idtchen quarters, for more reasons than one. If the burnt gases find access to the larder they v/ill taint the food. Tiie Yard A few square yards of open space im- mediately adjoining the kitchen premises is a great convenience. It gives opportunity for drying cloths, shaking dusters and mats, and in the summer months enables the maids to conduct outside many dusty operations that otherwise they might be tempted to do indoors. It is better if the yard is paved with bricks or cemented. Less dirt is conveyed indoors, and the yard itself is more readily cleaned and kept clean. In a well-planned house the outbuildings will be grouped round, or at least open upon the yard. The portable dustbin may find a corner there, screened from the passer-by, and there the baby-carriage or bicycle may be washed and cleaned before it is put away for the day. A-fter all, it is the little conveniences in the aggregate which make for comfort in the home, and, therefore, unimportant as some of these things may seem, it is wort}i while to take them all into account when searching for the ideal house. To be continued.