FLOOR CONSTRUCTION 



343 



Lay an unmatched rough inch floor, C; upon this 

 place strong tarred building paper, B, with joints well 

 lapped. Saw and prepare the two -inch planks which 

 are to form the floor, A. For every four hundred 

 square feet of floor, procure one barrel of Trinidad 



FIG. 91. Making a barn floor 



asphalt and three gallons of gas -tar. A large iron 

 kettle may be used for heating and mixing the material, 

 which should be in proportion of about one to ten. 

 With an axe remove the barrel, and chop off and 

 place in the kettle pieces of asphalt until it is not much 

 more than one -half full, then add the due proportion 

 of gas -tar. The kettle should be placed in a rude arch 

 at a little distance from the building. By means of 

 a slow fire, heat the material. If by chance the material 

 should take fire invert the kettle. When all is ready, dip 

 the hot mixture into a galvanized iron pail and pour it 

 in a small stream on the paper, spreading it to the 

 width of the plank intended to be laid, by means of a 

 shingle or paddle. Lay the plank in the hot material, 

 being careful that when it is spiked down the hot 

 asphalt does not fly into the face. Then proceed to 



