FARM STRUCTURES 457 



Sheathing. It is advisable to put sheathing on diago- 

 nally, as it then strengthens the frame very much, and the 

 extra cost of wasted material and labor is not great. The 

 wall sheathing is best when made of matched lumber. 



Siding. The siding generally used is lap siding or weather 

 boarding. White pine is the wood generally used and is 

 regarded as very satisfactory. Drop siding, or so-called 

 patent siding, does not give a pleasing effect, although quite 

 satisfactory in other respects. Stucco or plastered walls 

 are very satisfactory when the plastering is on metal lath. 



Lathing. The lathing should be carefully done, insuring 

 uniform spaces between the lath. The girder carrying the 

 second floor joists should be set in far enough to enable the 

 lath to be nailed on strips and permit the plaster to clinch 

 around the lath. The direction of lathing should not be 

 changed, as there is a greater tendency to crack the plaster 

 when shrinkage occurs. An extra 2x4 should be used in each 

 corner so that the lath can be securely nailed in place. 



The Roof. The greater the pitch of the roof the better, but 

 a half pitch makes a good roof. Wooden shingles are generally 

 used, those of cypress or red cedar being regarded as the best. 

 One thousand shingles laid 4 inches to the weather should 

 cover 100 square feet; but when laid 4J^ inches to the weather 

 shingles will make a good roof. There are 250 shingles in a 

 bale, which is made 25 layers thick and 20 inches wide. Five 

 shingles should make a thickness of two inches. In laying 

 the shingles, joints should be broken twice, and plenty of 

 nails should be used in nailing them on. Creosote and other 

 stains act as a preservative, but painting is not advisable. 

 Shingles may be dipped in oil with good results, for which 

 about 2J^ gallons of linseed oil are required per M. 



The Exterior Finish. The following suggestions in regard 

 to the exterior finish may be useful. It should be plain, and 



