248 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



are affected. While a wall may be constructed after the building has 

 been completed and in use, still, this is unsatisfactory and an additional 

 expense. Concrete walls probably are the most satisfactory being easy 

 to construct. They should be placed below the frost line extending at 

 least eight inches above the ground line and need not be as heavy as 

 for the other farm buildings. The super-structure can always be more 

 easily and satisfactorily built when the top of the wall is level rather 

 than following the ground slope as is soniotinics done. Bolts should 

 be placed in the top of the wall to fasten the sills down ; this is very 

 essential with buildings of such light construction which are likely 



Fig. 5. A plain simply constructed house is all that is required. Farmers colony house. 



to be seriously affected by severe windstorms. If the foundation is filled 

 up to or near the top of the wall, and the ground properly graded out- 

 side so there is a slope away from the house in every direction, there 

 will be no danger of surface water affecting the condition of the floor. 



FLOORS. 



The floor should be of moderate cost, and absolutely vermin proof. 

 Three types of floors are used, viz.: earth, wood and concrete. The 

 earth floor is the cheapest and generally as serviceable as any. It should 

 be raised in line with the top of the foundation to prevent dampness as 

 the water level is the same within the house as out. The fine earth re- 

 moved as the houses are cleaned should be replaced occasionally to 

 maintain the original floor level. 



In using earth floors, if the soil is not well drained, precautions must 



