FOR ALL CLIMATES 35 



Set wood sills in cement or bolt tliem to it. Floor inside should' 

 come about half way iip on inside of «ill. Sills should be placed 

 before cement sets. A finish coat of one part cement and two 

 parts sharp sand will give a better floor and may be made smooth. 

 Make it half an inch thick and moisten the first cement floor 

 before you lay the finish coat. A cement floor is always better 

 for having a good crushed rock or cinder foundation under it. 



Wood floors must be tight and smooth or you cannot keep them 

 clean. There must be a way to get under them or rats will nest 

 beneath the floor. Wood floors should be double and top layer 

 should be laid across (at right angles to) the bottom layer. Tar 

 paper between the laj-ers is advisable if top is not made of matched 

 boards. 



Floors of either wood or cement should be covered with 1 or 

 2 inches of sand for summer use and with 1 or 3 inches of sand 

 and 6 to 8 inches of bright straw litter (to be renewed when 

 badly soiled) for winter use. 



Earth floors need more attention than any other kind. If not 

 cared for the soil will become contaminated to a depth of not 

 less than 10 inches and sometimes 18 inches in a single year. If 

 neglected, and the soil not renewed at least once and better twice 

 a year, the soil may become contaminated with disease producing 

 germs and filth to a depth of 3 or more feet in a few seasons. To 

 keep an earth floor sweet, in a sandy location, requires the removal 

 of at least 12 inches of top earth each year and renewal with 

 new sand. 



Framing. Spruce is the best framing material. Don't frame 

 too light. If you board up and down j^ou will use less framing 

 stuff. I would not board the roof up and down; roof boards are 

 more difficult to lay that way and cut to more waste and it does 

 not make quite as stiff a building. Where matched stock is used 

 and no covering, board sides up and down. You must decide on 

 how you will board in the building before you place your frame. 



For sills of building 30x20 feet, use outside sills of 4x6-inch 

 stuff and a middle sill of 4x4-inch; 10x18 foot buildings or 

 smaller use outside sills of 4x4-inch stuff; no middle sills re- 

 quired. 



For studding, straps about windows and doors, and for plates 

 use 3x3-inch stock. Place as shown in plans in Chapters V 

 and VI. 



For roosts use 2x3-inch spruce stock, with 8-inch smooth side up 

 and sharp edges rounded with a nlane. 



For rafters use clear 3x4-inch spruce. Place 2 to 31/2 feet 



