THE FAKM HOMESTEAD. 113 



by 3 inches; and on tins is placed a light wooden roof 

 covered either with galvanised iron, or with the specially 

 prepared paper, manufactured by the Willesden Company, 

 This makes a cheap covering, perfectly impervious to wet. 

 which will last some years. For the covering of farm 

 buildings of a more substantial and permanent character, 

 the blue Staffordshire tiles are good. Though heavier, 

 and hence requiring timbers of greater scantling, they are 

 much easier replaced when broken. In an ordinary 

 building 20 feet wide, outside measure, to be covered 

 with Staffordshire tiles, we use timber of the following 

 sizes : wall plates 4 J inches by 3 inches ; principals 7 inches 

 by 2-|- inches ; tie beam 9 inches by 3. A f -inch iron tie 

 rod, attached to a strap passing round the tie beam and 

 secured by a nut and screw, passes through a curved iron 

 plate, which embraces the backs of the principals at the top. 

 There is a single purline on each side 5-J inches by 3 inches; 

 the rafters are 3 inches by 2 inches, and 16 inches apart 

 from centre to centre ; the ridge-piece is 6 inches by 1J; 

 and the tiling laths 1 by f inch. When finished the 

 ridge is capped with blue Staffordshire tiles, some of 

 which are cast with a boss on each side, and this forms an 

 efficient and ornamental ventilator. In the case of gal- 

 vanised iron or slate we entirely dispense with rafters ; the 

 principals are constructed of the usual dimensions ; two 

 purlines instead of one are placed on each side of the roof, 

 which is covered with f-inch "matchboard" laid vertically 

 from wall plate to ridge, and to this the iron or slates are 

 nailed. This makes a most substantial roof at a consider- 

 able saving in cost. 



Some proprietors make a point of using larch and other 

 timber grown on the estate, in the construction of roofs 



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