268 The Farmstead 



stakes driven in even with the surface of the 

 ground, at just 10 feet from the corners. Since 

 it will be necessary to remove the lines before 

 the horse scraper can be used in excavating, 

 and as the construction stakes at the corners 

 will be disturbed, the short stakes become 

 necessary that the lines -may be restored as the 

 work proceeds and the excavation kept square 

 and true. It will be seen that a line drawn 

 from A to B will restore the base line, and in 

 like manner the other lines may be quickly 

 reproduced. It will be necessary, too, to restore 

 these lines before the foundation wall is begun. 

 By "plumbing" downward from the restored 

 lines, other lines may be placed in the bottom 

 of the excavation, which will be duplicates of 

 those first drawn. 



EXCAVATION 



Barns are now usually built with a basement 

 story. This implies that the building is to be 

 placed on more or less sloping ground, in which 

 case the removal of some earth will be neces- 

 sary. The basement story should extend well 

 above ground, to economize construction and to 

 secure dry walls and floors. It is a great mis- 

 take to place animals in cellars. The dotted 

 line in Fig. 97 shows an incline rather too 



