Foundations for Houses 103 



vided by means of openings in the foundation walls 

 of all buildings when the floors are placed within 

 a few feet of the ground. 



When wooden floors are constructed near the 

 ground, it is essential to arrange the foundation 

 walls so that rats cannot gain access underneath 

 the floor. This may be readily accomplished by 

 covering windows or openings in the walls with 

 fine-meshed wire screens. Close-fitting blinds may 

 be used to close the windows and prevent draft 

 underneath the house during the colder part of 

 the year. If suitable stones are at hand for the 

 construction of foundation walls, they undoubtedly 

 may be used to good advantage. When neither 

 brick nor stone is readily available, the founda- 

 tion walls may be made of grout or concrete, pro- 

 vided small stone or gravel can be readily obtained. 

 On many farms small field-stones, which prove a 

 hindrance to cultivation, may be used to good 

 advantage. 



Walls of this description may be constructed 

 without the aid of skilled labor and at a very moder- 

 ate expense. In order to construct such walls satis- 

 factorily, it is necessary to dig narrow trenches 

 below the frost line. A simple and effective manner 

 of proceeding is as follows: Drive rows of stakes 

 into the ground, one row on each side of the trench, 

 and nail boards on the inside of the stakes. The 

 boards are used to hold the concrete in place until 



