BARN FRAMES. 239 



at the smallest cost, I give the plan of end and side elevation 

 • of a barn, framed and built of small or light material, except 

 sills (and even these can be dispensed with, where set on stone 

 masonr}^ as all good buildings should be), also the floor plan ; 

 which can be changed in size to suit the wants of the indi- 

 vidual and location. 



There are two sets of rafters, one for the roof, the other for 

 tying the building together, doing away with tlie beams and 

 braces usual in barn frames. The stud should come to the 

 upper edge of the rafters, the foot of one pair being set on one 

 side and the foot of the other pair on the other side of it, made 

 fast with two or more § inch iron bolts, or of a size to suit the 

 width of the building. The lower rafters, which tie the building, 

 cross each other near the top, their ends being bolted to the 

 upper or roofing pair, as well as at their point of crossing. There 

 will be no get away to them. This makes a self-supporting roof, 

 without beams and braces, which are always more or less in the 

 way in filling, especially if done with the horse fork. The 

 horse fork can be attached under these lower rafters. At the 

 drive way and ends there should be braces as shown in the cut, 

 and if the building is large (such as one 38 by 150 feet, 8 foot 

 basement for cattle, and 22 feet above, belonging to Dexter 

 Severy, at LeLand, LaSalle county), it should have braces 

 similar to the ones shown in the elevations, for supporting the 

 side walls, at intervals of 10 or 12 feet, that they may not be 

 blown in when the barn is empty ; and one at the end, or per- 

 haps two, if the building is forty feet wide. 



Timbers 2x4, 2x6, 2x8, and larger for heavy structures, 

 can be used, and even fencing for hog and sheep pens, fastened 

 with clinch nails. 



1 am using dirt floors in drives, and hog pen sleeping 

 apartments are best so filled a foot above the level outside, 

 being occasionally taken out and carried on the land and 

 renewed. Manure sheds and cellars would be better cemented 

 to hold all the liquids, as they are the best part of the manure. 

 Cement under horses and cattle with a slope to the manure 

 cellar when possible. It will all pay. 



