THE KIND OF HOUSE TO BUILD 39 



well elevated is better under such conditions. If, 

 however, several inches of stones or cinders are 

 placed under the boards, the result will be satis- 

 factory. When there is an opening under the house, 

 the floor will be cold unless double boarded. Of 

 course, a layer of building paper between the boards 

 will help. Rats may be kept from coming through 

 a double-boarded floor by putting wire with a close 

 mesh between the boards. 



Cement floors may be good or bad. If laid on 

 the ground, moisture is very likely to rise through 

 the cement. Some experiments of this kind have 

 been most unsatisfactory. If the earth is dug out 

 and replaced with a layer of stones or cinders a foot 

 deep, this trouble will be avoided. Cement floors 

 are cold to the feet and should be covered with sev- 

 eral inches of sand, with a deep litter above. If well 

 made, a cement floor is durable and rat-proof and 

 the cost is not great. Whatever kind of floor is 

 used, it should be several inches higher than the 

 ground outside, that there may be no possibility of 

 water collecting on it. 



The foundation walls for the permanent poultry 

 house may be made of cement to advantage, al- 

 though stones are often used. A cement wall is 



