482 Transactions of the American Institute. 



When the thermometer goes below twenty-fives clegi'ees, frost 

 forms in the rooms not used, on the outside door and window 

 jams, but never in the rooms when we have fires. Another way- 

 is to stud up next the wall inside (the wall being solid) with four- 

 inch studding, and plaster on this, thus forming a four-inch space 

 of dead air. Were I to build again, I would have a two-inch vault 

 in the wall and two-inch studding, which would make a perfect 

 wall and cost but little more, since plastering on a wall here 

 requires much more mortar and time than when laid upon lath. 



CEMENT WATER PIPE. 



Mr. J. U. Abel, North Clove, Dutchess county, K Y. — Six years 

 ago, I had a cement pipe laid, one hundred and twenty roils in 

 length, down a slope and across a running stream, at a depression 

 of sixty-five feet below the fountain, thence up an elevation of 

 twenty-eight feet, furnishing my yards amply, and at a point on 

 the wayside for the public, with good spring water. I dug the 

 ditch three feet deep, and sixteen inches ■wide at the bottom, leav- 

 ing it as smooth as may be in the center. Now the tools were, a 

 rod eight feet long, made round and tapering about one-sixteenth 

 of an inch, of hard maple — any kind of wood that will wear smooth 

 will do. Through the larger end, which was one inch and one- 

 eighth in diameter, should be a spike or iron two inches and a half 

 long, to aid in turning the rod while in the cement. The smaller 

 end was extended six or seven inches by means of an inclosed piece 

 of buckskin stuffed with cotton, tacked firmly and even with the 

 surface of the rod, its flexibility enabling the laying of the pipe on 

 a curve. Next, a box or trough eight feet long, two inches and a 

 half wide at the bottom, three inches across the open top and sides, 

 and three inches and three-quarters high. A measure containing 

 a trifle over one-third the cubical contents of the above box or 

 trough, for measuring the cement and fine sharp gravel, will be 

 required. One brltk and one plastering trowel, together with the 

 end of a small hogshead about one foot high, in which to mix, are 

 all found necessary, aside from the tools to fill the ditch. I used 

 the gravel from the bed and sides of streams, passing it through a 

 sieve that would admit a small pea. Now to two parts of this 

 gravel I added one part of cement, mixing it thoroughly before, 

 and grinding it well under the hoe after, adding the water. Wet 

 the trough and fill with the mixture, pressing it in with the brick- 

 trowel; pass the trowel along the sides of the trough upon the 



