CHAPTEE XXI. 



THE CONSTRUCTION OF FAKM-BUILDINGS AND COTTAGES. 



I NOW propose to make a few remarks on the different parts of farm- 

 buildings under the following heads : 



1. Foundations. 



2. Walls. 



3. Roofs. 



4 Spouting. 



5. Windows. 



6. Ventilators. 



7. Doors. 



8. Floors. 



9. The arrangement of the stable. 



10. The arrangement of the cowhouse. 



11. The arrangement of the pigsty. 



12. The arrangement of the stackyard. 



13. The general arrangement of the farm-steading. 



14. The cost of the farm-steading. 



15. The chief heads of a specification of the different works 



applicable in the erection of a cottage. 



1. Foundations. It is an important point to have the foundations 

 made dry. The best site for a building is on stony or gravelly soil; 

 as in that case the walls will remain dry. In any circumstances, a good 

 firm and hard foundation should be made before proceeding to build. 

 If any soft parts are found in digging the trenches, these should either 

 be rammed hard down and filled up with a hard material, or the soft soil 

 should be removed until a firm bottom is met with, and then the open- 

 ings filled up with sand, firmly rammed down, or concrete. Clay does 

 not make a very good foundation, as it is apt to be affected by the 

 atmosphere. Where clay is met with, the best plan is to dig out a 

 trench down to a hard layer of the clay, and then have the founda- 

 tions laid in concrete, and clay rammed in about the concrete to prevent 

 the air from getting to the clay beneath. The clearing of foundations is 



