106 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



that he saw wild roses, violets, lilies, and many fragrant flowers, 

 unknown and different from those of Europe ; that some people 

 had cleared away shrubbery about the grape vines to let them 

 grow the better. 



Mr. Carpenter read the following letter on slate roofing, from 

 Geo. N. Bates, agent of the Empire Slate Co. 



ROOFS OF SLATE. 



Slate roofs for farm buildings can be obtained at Middle Gran- 

 ville, N. Y., at $2.25 a square, and the freight to New York will 

 make the cost less than $6 a square. A slate roof is not only as 

 easily laid as shingles, but will last longer than the building, un- 

 less it burns, and then its eiEfect is often to dampen the fire so as 

 to prevent its extending to other buildings. The paper also 

 states the following facts, interesting to farmers : 



" The slate produced from this quarry is as good as the best 

 Welsh slate ; it is entirely free from grit, and can be planed as 

 smooth as a board ; is very flexible, and not liable to crack ; is 

 used for roofing, flooring and mantles. The slate is of three 

 colors — purple, green, and black. It is worked out, ready to put 

 on the roof, in seventeen different sizes, the largest size being 24 

 by 16. The slate can be laid on a roof with one-quarter rise — 

 that is, a roof twenty feet long will require five feet rise; this 

 insures a tight roof, when put on close-laid plank or roofing 

 boards, but where it is only ribbed, mortar is used in the joints. 

 The slate may be laid flat as a tin roof, by using white lead to 

 the joints. The slate should be laid so as to present three thick- 

 nesses at the butts. It is believed this is the cheapest roof that 

 farmers can use, as it can be put on in the verj^ best manner for 

 about $6 per square of ten feet. They also furnish a cheaper 

 slate, such as are a little rough, mixed in color, &c. This second 

 price can be put on a roof at a cost not exceeding $5 per square — 

 making quite as good a roof for out-buildings." 



Dr. Trimble. — The slate which I mentioned, on a roof at Phila- 

 delphia, at a former meeting, comes from a Pennsylvania quarry. 

 The roof is very flat ; the slate is laid upon ribs, in cement, and 

 is found perfectly tight, and greatly to be preferred to an iron 

 roof. In fact, iron roofs are in a great measure condemned in 

 Philadelphia. This slate roof was adopted after a great deal of 

 inquiry and experiment. There is an inexhaustible supply of 

 slate in this country, of the very best quality. 



