'?S N. H. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The quantity of land already reclaimed by these operations 

 was estimated, in 1835, at an extent not less than ten 

 American townships, and this has been considerably in- 

 creased in succeediiiti: vears. 



A point to whicli my attention has been forcibly drawn 

 in Ital}', is the construction of ordinary dwelling-houses in 

 such manner as to be nearly, if not altogether fire proof. 

 I certainly would not recommend for your adoption the 

 common Italian farm house, which is a large stone build- 

 ing, with stalls and stables, hen house and piggery in the 

 lower story, and on the same floor, on tlie kitchen, with 

 sleeping rooms above, often unprovided Avith fire places or 

 qi glass window. But a better class of Italian dwellintrs 

 might be copied here with little increase of expense or 

 sacrifice of comfort, and with very great advantage on the 

 score of durability and security from fire. 



The mode of building is this : The material is always 

 stone or brick. In place of furring out and lathing, an 

 inner wall of single brick is built on the same foundation, 

 leaving a space of three or four inches, and connected with 

 it by very few ties, so tJiat there are really two walls in- 

 stead of a single wall with flues, as injudiciously recom- 

 mended by Downing. The partition walls are of brick or 

 stone, and the staircases of the same material. The floors 

 are sometimes supported by arched masonry, but more 

 usually by large beams instead of slender joists, and they 

 are always covered with tiles or cement, over which is laid 

 a matting, and, in winter, a woolen carpet in addition. 



It is not very common to plaster the ceiling, but when 

 the joist beams arc left exposed, they arc frequently sup- 

 ported by handsomely carved brackets, and otherwise fin- 

 ished in an ornamental and tasteful style. The roof is 

 covered with tile or slate, and the cornice is always of 

 stone or moulded brick. In our climate, the floorln"- I 

 have described would be thought objectionable; but if the 

 partitions and staircases arc of brick or stone, so that 



