478 Cottage Economy. 



and cast into moulds of any convenient shape for sale. {Mechanic's Magazine, 

 Decern. 1825.) 



We may add, that both wax and honey may be bleached perfectly white by 

 steam, or by exposure to a humid atmosphere. In frosty weather the operation 

 is rapid. It is by bleaching in frosty weather, Dr. Bright ( Travels in Hungary) 

 tells us, that the Jews bleach common honey to such a degree of whiteness, as to 

 sell it for Kowno honey, which is exclusively made from lime tree blossoms. 

 {Cond.) 



Art. IX. Cottage Economy. 



IN fixing on a situation for a cottage of any description, a naturally dry 

 or well drained soil, and a sheltered, and yet .airy, and not shaded surface, 

 are obvious requisites. But there are two desiderata less obvious, that 

 should also be attended to ; not to place a cottage where, during sum- 

 mer, it will be surrounded by bushes, hedges, or trees, in such a way as to 

 maintain around it a pond of stagnated vapour ; and always, if possible, 

 to choose a situation where the entrance will be from some point near 

 the south. 



Whatever may be the flan or accommodations of the cottage, it should 

 be set down so as that a north and south line may form a diagonal to the 

 square of the outer walls ; that is to say, supposing the building a square 

 or parallelogram in the ground plan, one front should face the south-east, 

 and the others the south-west, north-east, and north-west* In conse- 

 quence of this disposition, the sun may shine into every Window of the 

 house every day in the year, with the exception of a few days in De- 

 cember, and every wind that blows will strike on two sides of the house 

 instead of one. The advantage as to the sun is, that the external surfaces 

 of the walls are dried, and the interior of the rooms rendered more cheer- 

 ful ; and as to the winds, that the force of such as are violent is divided, 

 and that drying winds after rain operate upon two surfaces instead of one. 

 Another advantage as to the sun is, that his influence is moderated during 

 the heat of the day in summer, because he then strikes obliquely and 

 equally on two fronts, instead of falling with all his force on one front. 

 This will apply to the roof as well as to the walls. A similar remark may 

 be made as to the cold north winds of winter, which striking obliquely, 

 the cold produced by them is moderated as well as their force. 



The ground floor of every cottage should be raised at least one or two 

 feet above the surrounding surface, whether that surface be naturally dry 

 or moist, even or irregular ; but if the surface is flat, very great advan- 

 tages will result from raising the floor of the cottage three feet above the 

 general level from the soil. Dampness and its accompanying cold are 

 effectually obviated. The cold moist stratum of air, which lies on the 

 surface of the ground, and which is known to injure the lower branches of 

 shrubs and herbaceous plants, while it does not affect such as are higher, 

 (Gard.Mag. vol.i. p. 289.) is thus prevented from entering the cottage, and 

 a much greater degree of warmth insured, especially during the night time. 

 Where some degree of ornament and comfort for children and females is 

 considered worth attending to, nothing can add more to such a cottage 

 than a raised terrace or elevated basement completely round it, and less 

 one step of the height of the floor of the house, five or six feet broad, 

 and covered with a veranda, or by the continuation of the cottage roof. 

 This arrangement, independently of many other advantages and beauties, 

 by protecting the walls and windows, and also the foundations, from mois- 



