230 THE REV. J. G. WOOD. 



Of course, one would think that such houses could not be in- 

 sured against fire, and I am sure that none of our English offices 

 would take them at any price. Yet, so contradictious are facts, 

 the offices are only too glad to get the insurances, and, when a big 

 fire occurs, the stone and brick buildings are burned to the ground, 

 and the wooden houses escape. They look dismally cold, whereas 

 they are rather too warm. I am writing this in a wooden house, 

 and though the country around is a sheet of snow, and a window is 

 open, I can hardly bear my coat. This is the dodge. First there is 

 a frame, across which are nailed row upon row of planks. This 

 makes the shell. Over the planks (which have been seasoned for 

 some three years after being sawn) is a layer of water-proofed felt, or 

 brown paper. Over that comes the covering, made of " clap-boards " 

 i.e., boards with overlapping edges. Inside the house is a lining 

 of plaster, and upon that is the paper. The chimneys are necessarily 

 of brick or stone, and there is a basement of the same material. 



If you happen to want more rooms, nothing is simpler. You 

 screw up the whole house some ten or twelve feet from the base- 

 ment, and put another set of rooms below. Household life goes on 

 just the same during the process. If you dislike your neighbours, 

 or your neighbours' poultry or ducks, you buy a piece of ground 

 elsewhere, put down a new basement, and then go, house and all, to 

 the new locality. If you are attached to your garden, you can take 

 it with you, trees, shrubs, &c., all complete. Now why do not we 

 do this ! Americans think nothing of it. A stone or brick house is 

 treated in the same free and easy style. 



Then there is a note upon oranges : 



You don't know what oranges are. I did not. They are 

 picked ripe in Florida, packed very lightly, and sent northwards at 

 once. The packing which is necessary for a sea voyage would smash 

 them. In the first place, in size they are as a peach to a plum. In 

 the next, you must hold them nearly at arm's length when you peel 

 them. As you begin to strip the peel, the essential oil flies out in a 

 small white cloud. If it should strike your face, it has the effect of 

 a nettle ; and if it should get into the eye, it is as bad as cayenne 

 pepper. The white portion is very bitter, and you must get rid of 



