HOUSING AND HYGIENE 



273 



a dry floor, because the air space below it stops capillary 

 attraction. It is not a durable floor when compared with 

 cement, and it is not rat-proof. < 



The dirt floor is popular because of the supposed economy 

 and its being "nearer nature." Unless certain rather ex- 

 pensive precautions are taken the dirt floor is likely to 

 be damp. If it is not damp it is dusty. Either condition 



Fig. 146 





t>:t^?l;4i:u*.?\:.:^ 



->^-*-*4' ^f V'"^ / 



''i^anH^J 



\. 





A six- or eight-inch course of coarse crushed rock should be the floor 

 foundation. (Courtesy of Kansas Experiment Station.) 



threatens the health of the birds. To keep out the capillary 

 moisture it will be necessary in most locations to excavate 

 the floor and put in an eight-inch course of coarse-crushed 

 rock. Over this may be laid a course of gravel or cinders, 

 and finally the dirt. This will keep out the moisture, but 

 will not keep down the dust, which is very irritating to the 

 air passages, often producing a cold-like condition that 

 18 



