216 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



many locations. Good rived shaved pine shingles make a good 

 roof, that without paint will last forty years, and with paint, 

 may last twice tliat time. Good rived hemlock shaved sliingles 

 will last thirty years. Sawed or machine-cut shingles are to be 

 avoided, as some of them being cut across the grain, soon water- 

 soak and decay, spoiling the roof. Good sound hemlock, free 

 from knots and shakes, straight-grained, sawed one-half inch 

 thick, and seven to ten inches wide, cut twenty-six inches long, 

 and laid one foot to the weather, the first course being cut four- 

 teen inches long, makes a very good roof — will .last some thirty 

 years, and is much better than sawed or machine-cut shingles, 

 and many times may be profitably used on barn buildings. If 

 paint is used on the roof, it should be of a light color, as dark 

 colors draw the heat and crack and warp the shingles. A tin 

 roof gives the coolest attic. 



The farm-house should be designed with direct reference to 

 health, comfort and convenience. A two-story house is more 

 desirable than less. It has a generous look of comfort, which a 

 lower building, however tastily set off can never represent. It 

 gives cool and comfortable chambers in summer, and attic room 

 besides, which always comes in play. The attic floor should 

 never be less than two feet below the eaves, giving access to the 

 whole room. The second story should be at least eight feet in 

 the clear, and the lower floor nine, and each may be as much 

 more as the occupant desires. The cellar should clear at least 

 eight feet, and be so arranged as to have a permanently dry 

 bottom ; by filling around the walls of the building, at the ends 

 of the joining at each floor, the rats may be cut off from any 

 incursions. If possible, give the room to be daily occupied by 

 the family the front and sunny side of the house, as the parlors 

 are, most of the time, to be kept dark. The dark side of the 

 house is best adapted to their use. The sun is nearly as necessary 

 to the life and health of mankind as to vegetation. The kitchen 

 should be of easy access to water, to the wood, to the cellar and to 

 the pantry ; should be of liberal size with large sink. (Cast iron 

 is best. If it endangers dishes, put a wide board on the bottom.) 

 Stairs should be wide, with easy pitch and broad tread. The 

 wood-house and the privy should be connected with the house, 

 and it is unnecessary they should be projections. It is desirable 

 that chimneys have their foundations from the bottom of the 



