258 Our Farming. 



are painted and stuck so the slats cannot be opened and there are 

 no windows behind. To ventilate, we throw the blinds open. 

 When shut, no water to speak of drives in. This cupola works 

 nicely so fixed. It cost $50. Simple, practical, ornamental, but 

 not extravagant. We get up to it by means of an extension ladder 

 from the barn floor. 



The outside of main barn is covered with ship-lapped and 

 coved 1 2 -inch wide boards, running up and down. The doors 

 are of 6-inch flooring matched, and are tighter ; were easier to put 

 on and cost $4 a thousand less. I would be inclined to 

 cover entire barn with narrow stuff again. We found it a big 

 job to put on 1 2 -inch boards so high up, and spring them up 

 tight always. The lumber is pine, and I shellacked every knot 

 myself before the boards went up, and the paint has never started 

 on one. And I put the priming coat of paint on the lumber 

 before it was used. It was much easier done. And then it was 

 done before it got wet, every time. The cost of main barn was 

 over $1,400, all labor except mine, and lumber and everything 

 counted. A carpenter offered to do it by the job for $1,300, but 

 I hired him by the day, and had everything done on honor and 

 just as I wanted it. Probably the entire cost of buildings as they 

 stand, thoroughly painted, and all the little contrivances that we 

 have added, have cost us, including a fair price for my supervi- 

 sion, near $2,500. We keep it insured for $2,000, and would 

 much sooner lose $500 than see it burn>. We take every precau- 

 tion against fire. I employ no man who smokes or chews tobacco 

 (and, of course, do not use it myself), keep door onto barn floor 

 always locked so no tramp could get in there to sleep (a combi- 

 nation lock that cannot be picked one of the Miller keyless 

 locks), use only lard-oil lanterns, and never take these into the 

 main barn. They can be hung outside so as to shine in. We hang 

 one over the window at the water tub in barnyard. If it should 

 be broken there, by a tub of water, a dumb man should be able 

 to put out the fire that could catch from a lard-oil lantern. We 

 use the common railroad lanterns. All this is a little trouble, 

 but it is our place to keep the powder dry before we trust in 

 Providence. I was surprised when I looked over the list of 

 causes of fires in a great insurance company's office, to see how 

 many barns burned from coal-oil lanterns. I avoid that risk for 

 $i a year for lard oil and a little extra trouble. 



For roofing material, we decided on using shingles on the 

 main barn and tool house. The barnyard roof being so flat, is 

 covered with tin. Perhaps you think I am a little behind in not 

 using slates. I think not. We bought the very best shingles, 

 which will, I think, last on a one-third pitch roof for twenty-five 

 years. They cost me less than slates, and the roof was built 

 lighter and cheaper. . I figure the difference in cost put at interest 

 will re-shingle roof when it is needed, or nearly so. But that is 



