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AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



May, 1908 



down with cement and the bottom of the flue built in the 

 shape of a cone or funnel. The top of the chimney should 

 extend at least two feet above the highest point of the house, 

 and all the branches of trees or foliage cut away above the 

 opening. A square flat stone or piece of slate is placed 

 on four corner pillars, capping the chimney to keep out 

 the rain. 



The fireplace can be built square or with a curved top, ac- 

 cording to taste. Open niches are left in the masonry — a 

 long one directly over the fireplace opening which will serve 

 as a mantel, and smaller ones here and there for bric-a-brac. 

 A hob is made by having one large flat stone project on one 

 side about eighteen inches from the masonry. To build the 

 hearth a strong box is built under the flooring extending 

 along the whole front of the chimney, about three feet in 

 width and six inches deep. This is filled with concrete and 

 the name of the cottage done in Mosaic by embedding the 

 stones half way in the cement — small white ones for the 

 lettering and darker ones for the filling in. These stones 

 can be gathered up after the sand has been sifted by the 

 masons. If you are near the seashore an infinite variety of 

 stones beautifully tinted by nature can be picked up and used 

 to advantage. 



The nailing of the slabs to the outside studding is a very 

 simple matter. Leave enough space between the slabs for 

 the cement filling to "clinch," and this latter process is ac- 

 complished by nailing strips of half-inch wire mesh with 



small staples on all the open spaces; but this must be done 

 from the inside. Then mix two parts of sharp sand with 

 one part Portland cement and a generous amount of hair. 

 When applied both inside and outside between the slabs this 

 cement will be found to clinch in such a way that it will be 

 hard to remove with a hammer. If applied only on the out- 

 side the seasoning and natural shrinking of the wood will 

 cause the cement filling to drop out in a very short time. 

 The outside panels, if there are any in the plans, can be 

 treated differently. Use any kind of old boards for a back- 

 ground — then bevel the two edges of ordinary laths in such 

 a way as to form an undercut groove when the beveled edges 

 face the panel. Nail these laths three or four inches apart 

 and then plaster the whole surface with the same propor- 

 tionate cement mixture mentioned above. When the panels 

 are dry and hard they can be tinted red or any desired color 

 with shingle stains. 



For the rustic work on the piazza locust is very effective 

 wood, as the bark is very rough and irregular; but if a smooth 

 wood is preferred use cedar. Both these woods will stand 

 the weather for many years. To clean the. cedar bark use a 

 coarse wire brush. After the staircases are in place the 

 newel posts, railings and fancy work are made of white 

 birch, and this is continued right around the open gallery. 

 White or silver birch is very effective for indoor work and 

 for rustic furniture, but it must never be used where it will 

 be exposed to the weather or it will soon rot. It must be 



The Rough Irregular Surface of Locust Logs Is Admirable for the Rustic Work of the Piazza 



