100 THE FARMER'S AND 



dry, and the sap would ferment in it, until it would 

 cause decay. Many of these old houses are found to 

 have rotten sills. A stick of timber eight inches square 

 is better for any building, as a sill, than a stick twelve 

 inches square ; and the first has not half the number of 

 square inches. 



SOW BLUE GRASS ON YOUR BANK FENCE. 



One of the reasons why sod fence will stand no better, 

 is owing to the fact, that the turf made by the wild grass 

 is not sufficiently tenacious at the surface. The roots ot 

 it are tough, but are very large and long. The great 

 proportion of them are perpendicular, and not lateral or 

 horizontal. Consequently, although they form a very 

 strong turf, it is not a turf which holds the earth well, 

 when there is any chance for the rain to act upon it. 

 Blue grass, on the contrary, forms a very thick turf at 

 the surface, which is precisely the place wanted by the 

 covering of a sod fence. The winter is a good time to 

 sow the seed, particularly on the snow, if there should 

 be any. 



WHITEWASH YOUR COTTAGES. 



Log houses pointed with lime, though apparently tight, 

 admit much wind and water, in consequence of the logs 

 seasoning and shrinking from the lime, or the lime be- 

 coming loose from the logs. To make them tight, apply 

 whitewash as thick as can be laid on, which will fill the 

 small cracks and cement the loose mortar to the logs. 

 Salt should be put in the water before slaking the lime 

 in it, which is said to make it hard and durable. Skim 

 milk or glue, is also thought to be useful. 



HEN HOUSES. 

 If you wish a hen-house that will keep your fowls safe 



