192 TUB farmers' handbook. 



on the ground before starting the circumference of the wheel is easily 

 obtained. Then by driving along the proposed route of thedrain, and count- 

 ing the number of revolutions of the wheel, the total distance is easily arrived 

 at. With two persons in the vehicle, one counting in tens, and calling 

 "ten" each time, and the driver counting the number of "tens," there is no 

 danger of mistake. When, for example, the driver has counted 43 "tens," 

 and the other man has six towards the next ten. the number of revolutions 

 must be 436. If the wheel were 14 ft. 8 in. in circumference, then the total 

 distance would be 0,394 ft. 8 in , or nearly 97 chains. 



FARM BUILDINGS.* 



Of the buildings that must be regarded as a part of every well equipped 

 farm, the residence is the first to be thought of, and eventually it is also the 

 most important, affecting, as it does, the comfort and convenience of every 

 one. The building erected in the first instance on many holdings in Aus- 

 tralia is of a very temporary character, and often it is so inconveniently 

 designed as to be of little use in the more commodious and permanent 

 structure that follows it within a few years. Sometimes the original building 

 has to be abandoned as a place of residence, and a new site chosen; more 

 often one detached structure is erected after another until the home is 

 simply a cluster of small buildings that have little appearance and that 

 increase the labours of the housewife. 



A FARMER'S COTTAGE RESIDENCE. (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). 



In offering the accompanying plans for a farm home residence, one that can 

 be erected as it were by instalments, the fact that it is necessary to make 

 the job look finished at the completion of each section has been kept in 

 view. The roof can be gabled and finished with a simple barge-board, 

 which will give a finished appearance. Another and a very important point 

 nowadays, the cost of construction, has also been carefully considered. 



A large house, such as this would be when complete, must necessarily cost a 

 fair sum to erect, the average cost per room usually being from £120 \o £140, 

 according to locality and finish, and including verandahs, laundry, bath and 

 store rooms, which are considered as being provided in all plans. 



The rooms here shown are of fair average dimensions, but without 

 alteration of the design they can be enlarged — for instance, the dining 

 and sitting rooms could be made wider from front to back, and so could 

 the back hall if desired. 



Material. 



Provision is made for the use of light material, but the building would 

 still be strong and durable. Of course, any heavier materials may be used, 

 such as bricks, stone, or concrete, but it has to be remembered that the build- 

 ing may be erected in a district miles from rail or wharf, where the cost of 

 cartage would be a considerable item. Then, again, with such material fewer 

 tradesmen may be employed at the work ; in fact, a good carpenter could do 

 the bulk of it. For the foundations, wood blocks may be used, but, as the 

 chimneys and fireplaces have to be of brickwork, the house would be more 

 comfortable in winter, and the job would look better, if a close foundation wall 

 were provided on the outside, with brick piers under the internal walls. 



The walls are shown to be of wood frame, covered externally to a height 

 of 3 feet 6 inches with weatherboards, and the remainder with fibro-cement 

 sheets. 



* A. Brooks, Works Overseer. 



