58 THE SMALL COUNTRY PLACE 



fitting joints. Of the wood used, hard pine, oak, maple, 

 birch and black walnut are the most popular. By the 

 use of several kinds or shades 01 these woods very pleas- 

 ing effects are produced. 



Finishing Floors. 



Much of the beauty and durability of floors depends 

 upon how they are finished. The most beautiful and 

 durable floors are those upon which but little dressing 

 has been used and that thoroughly rubbed in, filling 

 the pores yet preserving the natural grain of the wood. 



The best substance for filling the pores or grain is 

 rather thin white shellac rubbed down to a dead finish. 

 Two or three coats may be needed if the wood is very 

 porous, like birch. After a thorough rubbing down a 

 thin coat of wax or oil should be applied. If oil is used 

 a large amount of drier should be added and the floor 

 rubbed until the surface is dry and will not soil the hand 

 when passed over it. Wax should be put on with a 

 heavy weight that will leave but a very thin and smooth 

 surface. 



- STONE, BRICK AND CEMENT HOUSES. 



With the price of lumber going higher every year, we 

 must look about for cheaper material with which to 

 build. Stone and brick are no cheaper than wood, 

 owing to the high price of labor. An ordinary laborer 

 who* becomes a skilled workman after a few weeks and 

 can work with the trowel or hammer and chisel, de- 

 mands $4.00 per day for eight hours' work. This, with 

 the efforts of the trusts to secure a monoply of all neces- 

 sities that they may increase prices to enable them to 

 pay large dividends, will be sure to keep these materials 

 on a par with wood. This may be said also of steel and 

 iron, which enter so largely into the construction of 

 large structures. 



