504 Journal of Agriculture. [10 Aug., 1909. 



BUILDING HINTS FOR SETTLERS. 



I. Plan and Description of a Four-roomed Weatherboard Cottage. 

 A. S. Kcnyon, C.E., Engineer for Agriculture. 



The accompanying illustrations show the plan, section and details of 

 weatherboard cottages now being erected on the Government Experimental 

 Farms at Mario, Rosedale, and Moe for the accommodation of the 

 managers. The strictest economy consistent with a good job has been 

 observed in their construction. Hardwood is used throughout, except for 

 joinery and lining. 



The building stands upon 4 in. x 4 in. red gum stumps, spaced not 

 more than 4 ft. centre to centre under walls nor more than 6 ft. centres 

 under floors, sunk deep enough to obtain a good bottom but not less than 

 18 in. These stumps can be made from bush timber split. The floor is 

 4I in. X f in. T and G hardwood on 4 in. x 2 in. joists supported on 

 4 in. X 3 in. bottom plates and sleepers. Hardwood is much more ser- 

 viceable as flooring than Baltic pine and costs about the same, but is not 

 always procurable. When hardwood cannot be obtained, 6 in. x ij in. 

 T and G white Baltic pine is recommended. Steps of 6 in. x 2 in. red 

 gum are fixed to the external doors. The studs are 4 in. x i| in. spaced 

 not more than 18 in centre to centre, with 4 in. x 2 in. window and door 

 studs and 4 in. x 4 in. corner studs, checked and well skew nailed into 

 4 in. X 2 in. top and vermin plates. The studs are well braced with 

 3 in. X I in. battens let into studs, top i)late, and vermin plate, and 

 stiffened with 4 in. x 2 in. hardwood between studs at levels of top of 

 dado and top of windows. The ceiling joists are 5 in. x i\ in., spaced 

 2 ft. 6 in. centres, and lined on the underside with 6 in. x f in. T and G 

 and beaded lining. 



The roof is constructed of 4 in. x i\ in. rafters, spaced 2 ft. 6 in., 

 centres having one 4 in. x i| in. collar tie to each pair of rafters, and 

 9 in. X i^ in. ridge, the rafters being well nailed to ceiling joists, collars 

 and ridge. The roof of the Mario cottage is covered with 26 gauge 

 galvanized iron on 3 in. x li in. purlins, spaced not more than 3 ft. centres. 

 The roof of the other cottages are covered with roofing felt on 6 in. x f in. 

 T. and G. and beaded lining. The cost of the felt roofing with the 

 lining costs about ^^5 tos. more than 26 gauee co;ru<.'--ited irrn. .Ap the 

 felt will keep the building much cooler in summer and warmer in winter 

 than the iron, it is considered to be worth the extra cost. The spouting 

 (4 in. galvanized iron, 24 gauge) is fixed with strong galvanized iron straps 

 to each rafter and connected by 3 in. down pipes to 1,000 gallon corru- 

 gated iron tank. 



The studs are covered on the outside with hardwood weatherboards 

 having a 2 in. lap. On the inside they are lined with 6 in. x f in. T. and 

 G. and beaded lining to a height of 4 feet. The studs above lini-g are 

 covered with hessian up to the ceiling. The width of hessian, which is 

 6 feet, exactly fills this space. A f in. quarter-round mould is planted 

 over hessian on the top of the dado, in the angles of the walls and ceiling 

 and round door and window frames, making a neat finish and helping 

 to keep the hessian evenlv stretched. Two boxed wall vents fixed near 

 the ceiling are provided in each room, with flv wire faces inside and out, 

 and protected from the weather on the outside with a galvanized iron 



