44 



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 

 advantage 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 considerarion 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 

 summer months. It should not only be begun during this 

 time, but completed. My own work was deferred too long, 

 and has suffered in consequence. The whole of the outside 

 ought to be finished before the time of the fall rains, and 

 especially the grading which is to turn the v.'ater from the 

 building. 



The last subject to which I will refer, is that which relates 

 to the cost. This, of course, varies in different localities, 

 according to the price of lime, the facilities afforded for ob- 

 taining gravel and stones, and the price of labor. I used the 

 Pittsfield and South Adams lime, at an expense of about 

 $2,00 per cask. My gravel I was obliged to draw one- fourth 

 of a mile. The stones were obtained in clearing the surface 

 of the farm. The labor was all done by ordinary farm 

 hands, no masons being employed, except in putting on the 

 finishing coat. My estimate of cost does not exceed 5 cts, 

 per cubic foot for the rough wall, and from 1 1-2 cts. upward, 

 pel superficial foot, for the covering, according to the kind of 

 material and style of workmanship. This makes a saving 

 of at least one-half as compared with wood, in the ordinary 

 style of finishing a dwelling house; and it would not differ 

 materially from the cost of barn walls well boarded and 

 matched, or battened. As compared with brick, by which 

 it is not surpassed in any respect, there is a saving in expense 



