Dimensions of Hoit.se. 39 



bodies, and they are chilled and miserable during the long 

 nights. If the house be of a reasonable size, the natural 

 heat of tbeir bodies is not absorbed, but remains to support 

 them against the severity of the weather. These are 

 matters which may not be so easily regulated wben a build- 

 ing is adapted, but when a house is built, then there is no 

 more trouble in making it right than wrong. 



In all erections the first thing is to get a good foundation, 

 and even when built of wood it will be better to put down 

 bricks first, these to stand six inches above the ground. If 

 well tarred after they are laid they will prevent the damp' 

 rising, and also protect the wood. As much of the latter as 

 rests on, or is sunk into the ground should be well tarred also. 

 The timber used for the walls should be tongued, or feathered 

 and grooved. The superiority of this over straight edged 

 deals is very great, keeping' out both wind and wet more 

 effectually, and the cost is small. Upon no account should 

 the boards be less than an inch in thickness, no matter how 

 small the house may be, and where it is large it will be found 

 much better to have them an inch and a quarter. Many 

 persons commit the mistake of having the deals too thin, 

 the result of which is, the houses are cold and easily pene- 

 trated by damp. A capital plan is to make the house in 

 length and width twelve feet, or a divisible fraction of it, 

 that is, four, six, or eight feet, or if larger, eighteen or twenty- 

 four feet. The object of this is, that as timber is generally 

 sold in lengths of about twelve feet, if any of the sizes 

 named are selected there will be no waste whatever, every 

 inch being used up. Of course the house can be twelve feet 

 long by six feet wide, or twenty- four feet long by twelve feet 

 wide, or any other size that will be convenient. The shed 

 which we have already mentioned can either be a portion of 

 the building, the same in height and width, or it can be a 

 less lofty erection placed in front or at one end of the house 



