14 ORNAMENTAL GARDENING 
would be completely saturated from roof to basement during 
one of these storms. Plaster and wall paper are either ruined 
or seriously injured, and the contents of rooms sure to be badly 
damaged. I built the first part of my house with a third pitch 
roof of the best cypress shingles carefully laid, and it faced to 
the north and south. During a severe hurricane the wind hauled 
to the northwest and I am sure that every drop of rain that 
struck the north side of it was driven by the force of the wind 
up through the shingles and into the building. Good close 
workmanship is absolutely necessary, tar paper under shingles 
and exposed walls is excellent, and a finish of wood alone for 
rooms, or some material that will not be injured by water. 
The greater part of Florida is very flat, especially near the 
coast. If one’s house is placed down near the level of the ground 
it is impossible to get a view out over the surrounding country. 
By elevating it a few feet a much better outlook is obtained; 
if it is raised seven or eight feet so much the better, and the space 
beneath can be utilized for workshop, photographic dark room, 
bathroom or other purposes. Insects are far less troublesome 
in a house so built; there is not one mosquito at an elevation of 
ten feet where there are a dozen at ground level. It is probable 
that a house thus built is more conducive to health than one 
placed close to the ground and there is far less danger of the 
dreaded wood fungi which attack and destroy timber at or near 
the soil. 
There are probably two or more kinds of these fungi which 
attack the timber houses of Florida. They work in posts set 
in the earth or timbers just above it, slowly creeping into the 
upper structure, sometimes destroying the entire house. No 
wood should ever be placed on or near the ground in the con- 
struction of any building in Florida. Concrete is, no doubt, 
the coming material, especially for the warmer part of the state. 
In the southeastern part of it a soft, porous limestone rock is 
abundant, and this when laid up in a wall without being dressed 
is very attractive and durable. Such a wall properly laid 
will stand against any hurricane that visits this region. The 
upper part of the building may be either of rock, concrete or 
wood. 
