142 The Farmstead 



which fulfils the specifications, if he watches the 

 work carefully as it progresses. If he does, he 

 will have a much better wall than the average. 

 Since the material and the kind of work desired 

 vary so widely, it is not wise to lay down any 

 fast rule for the proportions of the binding 

 material and sand which may be used. It may 

 be said, however, that the proportions vary from 

 1 of lime or cement to 2 of sand, to 1 of the 

 former and 6 of the latter. 



WOODEN HOUSES — THE FRAME 



Almost any variety of wood will suffice for 

 the frame of the house, provided it does not 

 twist and spring out of shape too much before 

 or after it is put into the building. Since the 

 sills are to be placed on solid, continuous walls, 

 they need not be large. The only objection to 

 box and small sills is that they may allow too 

 easy access of air and rodents from the walls of 

 the rooms to the cellar, and vice versa, unless 

 the spaces above the sills and between the stud- 

 ding are bricked in as high as the tojD of the 

 first tier of joists. A rough floor laid before the 

 ui^right studding is placed is shown in Fig. 54. 

 This first floor should be laid diagonally, for the 

 one which is laid immediately upon it should 

 not be placed either parallel or at right angles 



