A home in the country has more of the attributes of genuine ownership than has a home anywhere else. The country home must be established with an idea of permanence and of becoming really rooted in the soil where one locates, if the true benefits of rural home ownership are to be secured. _Do's_ Decide either on large farm or on house and small acreage. Determine accessibility at all times of the year. Purchase soil of loam texture, mixture of sand and clay. Determine whether electricity is available. Locate back from highway. If present buildings are to be used, be sure of their condition and need of repair. Find out type and accessibility of schools and other community buildings. Prepare to be _of_ the community as well as _in_ it. Remember there are advantages of small tract over large farm where available time is an important element. Use local sources of information as to desirability of tract before purchasing. Work out a plan of management that fits into the time available for the farm duties. _Don'ts_ Don't overlook intrinsic values of the location, such as soil, low tax rate and good neighbors. Avoid excessive capital outlay. Avoid extra heavy or extra sandy soils or evidently unproductive ones. Don't overlook advantages of electric light and power. Don't buy a place just because it has buildings. They may not be adapted to your needs. Don't buy too much land. It can be a burden. Don't let the farm become your master. Don't pay too much for land. There is plenty of it. _Chapter_ III FINANCING AND PROTECTING THE INVESTMENT Acquiring land for residence and for subsistence calls for the exercise of good business judgment. Not only must the site and general location be acceptable to the family, but the investment involved should be within the capacity of the owner to finance without undue strain on his resources. It should be recognized that there will be ordinary living expenses to be met in the country and perhaps some extraordinary demands resulting from emergencies. Consequently, adequate thought and preparation must be made for financing the investment and making sure, as far as that is possible, that the investment in a country home will not be lost through inability to meet possible contingencies. It goes without saying that the capital investment should be kept as low as possible. Wherever feasible, the cash available should take care of the full investment without the necessity for additional financing. This reduces the drain upon resources through obviating the necessity of meeting interest payments on mortgages and makes possible the use of any surplus funds for improvement, for education and for giving the family the advantages which country life offers. If it is necessary to borrow funds for financing the purchase, special attention should be given to the type of mortgage which is obtained.