FARM BUILDINGS. 247 



In some of the practical details I have differed somewhat 

 from the plans as laid down by the author of that work, but in 

 the main leading features we are agreed. I propose, however, to 

 offer some general considerations, such as have been suggested 

 by my experience, and at the same time point out certain diffi- 

 culties which might occur to the embarrassment of the builder, 

 and which would tend to destroy the confidence of the public in 

 the whole plan. 



Instead of the ordinary quality of shell lime recommended, I 

 would use in all cases, where it could be obtained, the best of 

 stone lime, as being the more profitable article. After slaking 

 this lime in the manner proposed, instead of adding the stones 

 and gravel together, I should prefer, unless the stones were all 

 quite small, to add the gravel alone, in the proportion of eight 

 or ten parts to one of unslaked lime. The gravel ought to be 

 coarse and sharp, free from fine sand or any thing of the char- 

 acter of loam. After being thoroughly mixed, I shovel a layer 

 of this mortar into the mould in which the wall is to be formed, 

 some two or three inches deep. Stones of any shape or size, 

 limited only by the thickness of the wall, are then bedded firm- 

 ly into the mortar in such a manner that the stones may occu- 

 py all the space possible, with only just enough of the mortar 

 to bind the whole firmly together and render it solid. A second 

 layer of the mortar is then put in as before, followed by more 

 stones, and this process is repeated until the mould is filled. 



If the ground be of a wet or springy nature, the wall, as 

 high as the top of the ground, or at least for a foot or two, 

 might be formed in the ordinary manner — of large stone. A 

 preferable mode, however, would be to under-drain the land so 

 as to render the cellar bottom always dry. One material ad- 

 vantage possessed by the gravel wall for enclosing cellars, 

 aside from the great saving in expense, is to be found in the 

 perfect protection which it affords against the depredations of 

 rats and other vermin, which are entirely excluded by it. 



One other consideration to which I will allude is that re- 

 garding the season of the year at which this work ought to be 

 performed. The proper and best time is during the hot sum- 

 mer months. It should not only be begun during this time, 

 but completed. My own work was deferred too long, and has 



