Method of Preventing Drafts 105 



than the gable roof, although it will be found 

 necessary to use somewhat heavier rafters than 

 would suffice for the gable roof. 



Whatever form of roof be used, it should be so 

 constructed that it will effectually exclude all drafts 

 of air. Shingled roofs, as ordinarily constructed, do 

 not sufficiently exclude drafts. In order to make 

 such roofs satisfactory it is necessary to cover 

 the roof boards with building paper before the 

 shingles are laid, or to provide 'an inner ceiling 

 for the poultry house. Either of these will ex- 

 clude the drafts, but both are more or less ob- 

 jectionable. Each one must choose what seems 

 to him to be the lesser of the two evils. The 

 building paper underneath the shingles prevents 

 the shingles from drying as readily as they other- 

 wise would, and, consequently, materially short- 

 ens the life of the roof. Experience has taught 

 that the shingled roofs that dry quickest last 

 longest. The ceiling on the inside of the ordi- 

 nary shingled roofs is objectionable on account 

 of the additional expense. 



Floors. Some successful poultry keepers pre- 

 fer earth floors to artificial ones, but as these are 

 somewhat more difficult to keep clean many prefer 

 an artificial floor constructed of wood or cement. 

 Wooden floors are generally used, although they 

 are somewhat more expensive to construct, and 

 it is often necessary to replace them every few 



