564 
On  the  Cost  of  Agricultural  Buildings. 
sums  charged  are  not  a criterion  of  the  value  of  the  work  per- 
formed, but  the  value  depends  upon  the  quality  of  the  material 
used,  the  mode  of  executing  it,  and  the  time  and  labour  bestowed 
upon  it. 
The  extraordinary  difference  in  the  tenders  of  builders  for  the 
erection  of  buildings  where  competition  exists,  must  have  surprised 
most  persons,  it  often  varying  from  20  to  30  per  cent.,  and  in  some 
instances  much  more ; therefore,  where  such  difference  in  price 
is  seen,  there  can  be  but  little  faith  in  charges  made  where  com- 
petition is  not  called  for.  To  guard  against  improper  charges  it 
is  policy  to  require  the  builder  to  prepare  a Specification  of  the 
work  required  to  be  performed,  and  the  quality  of  the  materials 
to  be  used.  By  adopting  this  course,  the  probable  sum  to  be 
expended,  or  something  like  it,  will  be  ascertained  before  the 
work  has  been  begun  ; but  care  should  be  taken  to  guard  against 
11  extras,"  which  are  also  often  formidable  items.  If  a builder 
undertakes  to  perform  certain  works,  the  intention  should  be  to 
complete  them  for  the  sum  or  sums  agreed  upon,  and  he  should 
not  in  such  cases  bring  in  a bill  for  extras  ; if  he  does  do  so, 
it  should  not  be  paid  him.  When  an  objection  is  raised  by  an 
employer  to  the  sums  demanded  for  these  extras,  the  answer 
of  the  builder  generally  is,  that  the  extra  items  were  not  in- 
cluded in  the  specification,  or  the  contract  entered  into,  and 
could  not  be  anticipated.  This  is  generally  not  the  case  ; but 
presuming  upon  the  want  of  practical  skill  of  his  employer  in 
building  operations,  he  stipulates  in  the  specification  to  dig  a 
certain  depth  for  foundations,  which  he  is  aware  is  not  sufficient, 
or  to  perform  the  work  in  such  a manner  that  the  contract  must 
be  broken,  and  the  extra  expense  paid.  To  avoid  these  extra 
items,  the  contract  should  require  the  works  to  be  properly  and 
efficiently  performed, — if  for  a house,  in  a manner  suitable  for 
occupation, — if  for  a building  of  any  other  denomination,  suitable 
for  its  intended  purpose.  By  adopting  this  course  extras  may 
frequently  be  guarded  against,  but  not  always,  as  they  sometimes 
arise  from  circumstances  which  could  not  be  foreseen,  or  by  an 
extension  of  the  original  design. 
To  ascertain  if  the  charge  for  extra  work  be  a proper  one,  is 
difficult,  because  the  market  value  of  building  materials,  as  with 
other  marketable  commodities,  fluctuates  considerably ; in  fact,  it 
is  a value  rarely  known  by  non-professional  gentlemen  ; the  best 
plan  therefore  to  adopt  is  to  require  the  builder  to  give  a schedule 
of  prices  for  the  various  descriptions  of  materials  likely  tc  be 
required;  which  has  this  advantage  to  recommend  it,  viz.,  should 
a portion  of  the  work  contracted  lor  be  unnecessary,  data  will  be 
given  for  ascertaining  the  deductions  that  should  be  made  in  the 
amount  of  the  contract.  Power  to  make  alterations,  either  by 
