306 HOW TO MAKE A COUNTRY PLACE 



lawn surface, leading to a blind well of sufficient size to dispose of all 

 moisture. 



Think ahead; have all material at hand. There is no better 

 goad to keep the job at concert pitch, outside the silver spur, than 

 a pile of lumber stacked to half story height, construction shed filled 

 with barrels of cement, lime and brick, and an overflowing sand pile. 

 It is human nature to dally and spin out work when material is 

 scarce. 



Seven Important Levers to Raise a Modern House. 



The seven following materials, hollow brick, glazed or dead 

 finish terra cotta, cement, galvanized iron lath, wire glass, steel 

 I-beams, and tar, when properly used have simplified and improved 

 building an hundred fold. In so important a matter as the build- 

 ing of a home, it will often pay even the layman to master in a 

 measure at least some of the dry details of construction, the under- 

 lying "know how" of actual work to be done before one tries to even 

 outline pergola, veranda, fireplace, dainty outdoor bedroom, and 

 tiled conservatory, or spacious entrance hall, mantel, and staircase, all 

 features delightful to dream of, plan, and execute. 



If exposed to severe gales it is better to anchor a wooden framed 

 house to the ledge at each corner and projection with heavy irons 

 sunk into the rock and firmly fastened in drilled holes with melted 

 sulphur. This precaution gives greater solidity before the building 

 is fully braced and weighted. There should also be a prodigal use 

 of I-beams, and posts and stirrups of iron, concealed and fire pro- 

 tected by cement, or hollow brick. 



Woods. 



It's interesting to know that a king post holds up the ridge 

 and centres the collar beams, which in turn are steadied by the queen 

 post at each end ; that this latter must rest on a solid partition wall 

 or other support amply able to hold it, while trimmer heads and tail 

 beams form and strengthen stair and chimney openings; that white 

 pine boards shrink but little compared with spruce, chestnut and 

 N. C. pine, and that spruce boards unless thoroughly nailed are apt 

 to curl at the edges, sliver and wear out quickly; that beautiful hard 

 red birch which is more durable than even oak under foot decays 

 rapidly when exposed to the weather, and unless thoroughly kiln- 

 dried, warps, shrinks, and draws, as is also the case with chestnut, 

 but that both, nevertheless, are entitled to wide use, the latter because 

 of its beautiful grain and the former for its veined texture, rich 

 mottled coloring, and close resemblance to mahogany which can also 

 be fairly imitated in softer white wood. Cypress makes an excellent 

 weather wood, especially for frame, sash, belt course, soffit, and trim. 

 Locust and chestnut are two fine underground woods. 



The objection to chestnut on the basis that it is apt to be w r ormy 

 can be overcome by selection of the fittest, or a dose of creosote will 



