FARM BUILDINGS. 631 



portions of the wood- work. As black walnut is somewhat expensive, other wood stained to 

 imitate that color might be used for the doors and casings at much less expense, and would 

 answer the purpose very well; but for the floor, the walnut should be used. 



Stairs. The steep, narrow stairways that are so commonly seen in old country houses 

 the not only a great inconvenience, but positively dangerous, especially for children, while 

 they are also a very difficult means of transit from one floor to another, for the older members 

 of the household. 



The stairs of a building should always be located where they will be convenient of access, 

 since in doing the work of the household it is necessary that they should be frequently used. 

 They should be made broad, of slow elevation, and easy of ascent in every respect. They 

 should also be furnished with a good stout railing on the side opposite the wall. &quot;Whatever 

 means may be used in economizing room in a house, it should never be employed in respect 

 to the stairs. Such a course will always be found to be very poor economy in the end. To 

 be obliged to carry furniture or anything heavy or cumbersome up or down a steep, narrow 

 stairway, or to be obliged to go up or down such stairs many times a day, is no easy task. 

 It is not a matter of surprise that so many farmers wives grow old so early, or become 

 broken down in health, when we consider the vast amount of hard labor they perform, together 

 with the extra labor to which they are so often obliged to submit, through the inconvenient 

 arrangement of the homes they occupy. Straight, broad stairs of slow elevation are the 

 most desirable, but winding stairs economize room, and are to be preferred to the steep, nar 

 row ones so commonly seen in farm-houses. 



Roofs. The style of the roof will depend mainly upon the general architectural plan 

 of the building, although some styles of architecture are not as arbitrary in this respect as 

 others, and the taste of the owner can be brought into exercise as to choice between a steep 

 or moderately sloping roof. A flat roof is objectionable, especially in those latitudes where 

 a large amount of snow falls. On such roofs the snow is liable to accumulate, and requires 

 a considerable amount of care and labor in removing during the winter. Various materials 

 are used for covering roofs, wood, slate, and tin being the most common. The preparations 

 in which tar is used are considered objectionable, since they are more liable to take fire, and 

 communicate it more rapidly than others. 



Slate and tin are durable and the best preservatives against fire, although there are cer 

 tain preparations and paints that are very good in this respect, which are used to some extent 

 for covering shingles. The best paints for this purpose are such as will be fire-proof and at 

 the same time preserve the shingles. Shingles have been in use for roof coverings for a 

 long time, and are still extensively employed, although in some sections slate and tin have 

 taken their place in a great measure. The principal kinds of wood used in the manufacture 

 of shingles are cedar, spruce, and pine. Many others are, however, employed to a certain 

 extent. In order to make a durable roof of shingles, they should be perfectly dry when put 

 on. If those containing the least amount of sap are used, the roof will soon be liable to leak, 

 since they will warp and shrink in the hot sun, thus furnishing abundant opportunity for the 

 rain to find an entrance. 



Tin roofs are durable, but require considerable care in making, in order to obviate leak 

 age. They should always be kept well painted to prevent rusting. Slate, when well laid, 

 makes a very durable roof. Such a roof must first be covered with boards so tight as to 

 prevent the entrance of rain and snow in a strong wind ; besides, the rafters must be so very 

 strong that any amount of snow that may accumulate on the roof shall not by its weight cause 

 it to settle in the least. If it does settle, the slates, being very brittle, will break and come 

 off. Steep roofs, on which the snow cannot lodge, are to be preferred where slate is used. 



39 



