1870.] 
AMERICAN" AGRICULTURIST. 
89 
upper roof, and when full, the surplus water flows down 
to the large receiver outside the house. The room <?, is 
plastered and may be used as sleeping-room, or store-room. 
Otlier Items, — Ample drainage is provided for the 
cellar, sinks, etc. A Grape Arbor runs back to the privy, 
which is flat-roofed and enclosed with an L °f tnG arbor 
. and lattice-work screens, so as to effectually 
r. hide it from view. The window-caps and cor- 
S n ices arc more ornamental than shown in tho 
k engravings. The second cornice, at the top of 
^ the slate, adds to the beauty of the roof. The 
S mouldings in the first story, (tig. 7,) are a new 
&r pattern, designed by S. B. Reed, architect, which 
§ secures larger ornamental mouldings with the 
^ same cost of timber, than any pattern we have 
^ before seen. It is cheap, quickly put up, and 
to docs not shrink open. The middle piece is cut 
=f from a board less than an inch thick — It will 
be seen that there is not an inch of waste room in the 
house, while there is a large amount of room in pro- 
portion to the amount of walls. Ten closets or pantries 
are provided. 
All doors well 
grained in wal- 
nut ; all wood- 
work, outside 
and in, 3 coats 
paint; dining- Fig. 7.— 1st stokt MoTJLDrNG— 8J^ in. 
room and kitchen grained in oak ; Parlor in colors ; npper 
rooms white; stair newell, railing, and turued banisters, 
solid walnut. Gas-pipes to every room, from cellar to attic. 
Cost.— This will depend upon location, etc. ; but with 
proper economy, it may be built for about $5,000, exclu- 
sive of land, everything else included. In this case, all 
materials are bought of first hands, at lowest wholesale, 
net cash rates. The work is done by active, expert 
workmen, by the day, with an efficient superintendent, 
(Mr. John Donald), with favorable weather, etc., and the 
cost, all complete, is nbont as follows : Timber, §250 ; 
Lumber of all kinds, §700; Mason-work and material, 
§070 ; Carpenter-work, §750 ; digging Cellar, $15 ; dig- 
ging and stoning privy vault, §15; Grading, 35; Paint- 
ing, §205 ; sashes and glazing, §110 ; Blinds, $50 ; Slate 
and tin, ?2S0 ; Plumbing, drains, and Range, §290 ; Stairs, 
§120 ; Stoops and Piazza railing, §105 ; Arbor and Privy, 
§60; Fencing, §100; Side-walk, §25; Hardware (nails, 
locks, etc.), §130; Mouldings, §85; doors, §00; 4 Italian 
Marble Mantels, §140 ; Grates and summer-pieces, §00 ; 
Gas-pipes, §40; Interest, §110 ; Carting and Sundries, 
§185. Total, $5,100. Land, §1,000. N. B.— Part of 
the houses are one foot smaller (0 inches on a room) than 
the plans here shown, and that is the size here estimated 
for. The larger size costs about §150 more. With ordinary 
workmen, and with materials purchased on credit, at re- 
tail prices, the cost would run from §500 to $800 more, 
here. A cheaper style of finish, inside and out, would 
materially reduce the cost. Among items of cost in these 
houses, we reckon: best nails at 4?aC ; tin roof, 10c. per 
foot; slating, 14c; gas-pipe, 15c. per foot; timber, 2!4c.; 
siding, planed and grooved, 42 cents per 10-inch board ; 
bricks, $S!£ per M; blinds, unpainted, 40c. per foot; 
parlor moulding, SVic. per foot ; mason work, §4.50 per 
day; tenders, $1.75; carpenters, §3.00 to §3.25, etc. 
Plumbing Specifications.— As a matter of in- 
formation, not generally understood, we give the speci- 
fications for the Plumbing work : " In third story, line 
Tank (6 ft. long, 3\i ft. wide, 2'{ ft. high), with 4 lb., per 
ft.., sheet lead ; the sides of tank lead to bo " tacked " : 
all seams to be heavily soldered, and all inlets and 
outlets to be flanged over and soldered. Put in 3- 
incli inlet, with 4-inch overflow, to connect with 
leader pipes Iu Kitchen, furnish and put np 
one S0-galk>n copper boiler, round, riveted head, Croton 
pressure, set on Lockwood's stand, properly connected 
with waterback in range, and a y aa lead pipe, with '-i 
sediment brass cock, to connect at tho boflkim with waste 
from sink By side of Boiler, furnish and put 
in one cast-iron sink, 30x20, to be supplied with hot nnd 
cold water, through ?3 21b. lead pipe, and two brass -^ 
Bibb's cocks. Also, whore shown on plans, fit np two 
wash tubs, with right and left cocks. 'Waste from wash 
tubs and sink, through 2-inch lead pipe, properly trap- 
ped, to connect with earthen pipe leading to drains. Cold 
water supply for wash tubs and sink, to come direct 
from pump; also, run hot water pipe from tho 
boiler up over top of tank, to prevent accident 
Furnish and put in one 2|a-inch Douglas suction and 
force pump, suction to bo l>.j-inch 2'i lb. tin-lined lead 
pipe, loading to within 4 inches of bottom of cistern ; tho 
rising main or supply pipe from pump to empty over top 
of tank, through 1-inch 2:41b. lead pipe, with valve to 
stop return of water from tank to sink Also, where 
shown on plans, furnish and put in one quarter circle 
galvanized iron sink, 27x14, supplied with hot nnd cold 
water through % 2Klb. lead pipe, with % Bibb's cocks. 
Waste from this sink through 1 > J load pipe, properly trap- 
ped, to connect with earthen pipe leading to drain. All 
pipes to be put up with lead tacks and screws, with all 
necessary stop-cocks and traps: trap screws to be put in 
all traps. All to be done in a workmanlike, manner, and 
warranted for one year, damage by frost excepted." 
Bitter ESiitfer. — J. G. Caulkius, Dutchess 
Co., N. Y., says: "When the milk is brought in and 
strained, set the pans, one at a time, over a kettle half 
full of boiling water, and let them remain until the milk 
is thoroughly scalded ; this is to be repeated the next day, 
and tho milk then set aside in the pantry adjoining tho 
sitting-room or kitchen, and kept comfortably warm until 
fit to skim ; the cream is to be kept in a loosely covered 
jar, in the same temperature, and well stirred every time 
fresh cream is added, and churned at least once a week ; 
the butter will be as 6weet, and almost as rich as in June 
or October. If an Orange Carrot be grated fine, a little 
warm water poured on it, and the juice pressed out, 
strained, and stirred in the cream before churning, the 
butter will be of a beautiful golden yellow." 
Swelling on Cattle's Jaws. — "W. 
J. T.," of Florence, Iowa, writes : " I have often noticed 
a large swelling on the jaws of steers, and sometimes 
other cattle, which appears very painful, often reaching 
the size of six or eight inches in diameter, and finally 
resulting in the death of the animal. Will you tell mo 
the cause of this, and the cure, if there be one?" — Dr. 
Liantard, of the N. Y. College of Veterinary Surgeons, 
says: " The swelling on the jaws is probably a disease 
of tho maxillary bone, called Osteosarcoma, which is 
a fibro-plastic degeneration or growth of bone. The 
causes are generally unknown. At the early stage, tho 
application of blisters or some iodine ointment may 
prove successful treatment, though, generally, the disease 
terminates fatally." 
To Prevent Uogs Killing Sttcep. 
— In a private letter to an Editor of the ATneiican Agricul- 
turist, our veteran friend, John Johnston, writes : " If 
yon put a good sounding bell on one of your Cotswold 
sheep, the dogs will not be so apt to hurt them ; but the 
best thing I ever tried is a little strychnine on a piece of 
meat — and if the meat is tainted, they find it better. I 
have often got rid of dogs in this way. Put it around 
your yards iu the evening, and if the dogs come, you will 
find some dead ones in tho morning. I once got two in 
a morning, and several times one." 
F,gg>ca i ins Dogs.-" W. C. G." of Boston 
suggests a specific for Egg-Eating Dogs viz : " Blow an 
ordinary hen's c^g, expelling the entire contents, stop up 
one end of the shell with wax. Then fill it from the other 
end with strong spirits of ammonia, or ■ Hartshorn.' Seal 
that end and then put it where the dog can get it. If ho 
crashes it, he will never be desirous of repeating the lux- 
ury of egg-eating. After the dog has had one Ammonicai 
feast, a little of the fluid poured into the nest, will remind 
him of the fact, that, he once was burnt, and also will 
serve to cleanse the nest from vermin." 
Seed Peas.-"J. M.C.," Ohio. Our seed 
dealers have their peas raised in Canada, and in parts of 
New England, where the "bug" is not troublesome. 
It is stated that peas sown in June will be so late that 
they will escapo the attacks of the beetle. 
Salting Cabbage Plants. — " G. W. 
T.," Railway, N. J., considers salt necessary to the best 
development, of the cabbage, especially in places far from 
the coast. Ho finds them more crisp, of better flavor, and 
to keep better when salt is used, than without. He uses 
it as follows : — " A few days after setting out the plants, 
nnd wdien they are damp, cither after a rain or when the 
dew is on, I take a small dish of fine salt and walk 
among the rows, sprinkling a little pi?icli of salt on the 
centre leaves of each plnnt : when the leaves begin to 
grow, I repeat the salting, and when the centre leaves be- 
gin to form the head, I apply salt again, scattering it over 
the leaves ; after this I look them over occasionally, nnd 
if I find any plants that do not bead well or appear dis- 
eased, I sprinkle the salt over freely; this will save all 
such plants. A quart of salt is sufficient for 500 plants 
in a season, although more can be used with safety." 
Field l'eas.-"n. C," of Colorado, writes 
that he has 300 hogs, and wishes to know " the best vari- 
ety of pea to sow broadcast, for fattening them the com- 
ing season." no would prefer a pea that would give two 
crops a season, as his land is " hard to keep clean of 
weeds." We do not know what variety will bo best in 
his climate. We have found the common Canada Creep- 
er as good a variety as any we have grown for feeding 
hogs. Will some of the Canadian readers of the Agri- 
culturist favor us with their experience in raisiug peas 
for pigs, tho best varieties, etc. f 
Spaying cows for milk. -'E. S." 
Amen in. N. Y. This practice is recommended by those 
who have tried it as having several important ad- 
vantages. It secures more milk, of better quality, and 
the 0ow i:i constant. The perils of gestation and calving 
are avoided. It should not be performed un I il the cow 
has reached her full flow of milk— say six years old— and 
it should take place just before she would naturally come 
in heat the first or second time after calving. She will 
continue to give milk, if well fed, in a very gradually dim- 
inishing quantity and improving qnalify,until she becomes 
fat enough to kill. This will be in from two to five years ac- 
cording to mil king and feeding, and her tendency to fatten. 
Plssm Trees.— M. C. Walton, Penobscot 
Co., Me., lost two plum trees. The stocks were 4 inches 
in diameter, and tbe graft S inches. The trouble was 
caused by grafting on a slow growing and unsuitable 
stock. With trees of this size we can suggest no remedy. 
Young trees, if grafted low, might have the junction set 
below the surface of the ground, and some longitudinal 
slits made through the bark at the point of union. 
Laying Out a Vineyard.— " J. W.," 
St. Louis Co., Mo., finds laying out a vineyard by the uso 
of a line to be too slow work, and asks if we can suggest 
a quicker one. By the nse of flag stakes, a good plow- 
man will run a very straight furrow. By running furrows 
in both directions, at the proper distances, the intersec- 
tions would give the stations for the vines. We cannot 
say how much quicker this would be than the use of the 
line, but it would require fewer hands. 
Alton Ffntmieg Melon.— Wm. Elliot 
Smith, Alton, 111., writes that he cultivated fifteen acres 
of this melon, with very satisfactory results. The vines 
were well cultivated, bore astonishingly, and tho fruit 
brought good prices. We have no doubt that fine crops 
of melons have been produced at Alton. The question 
which interests cultivators is: Is there a distinct variety 
which originated at Alton ?— The drouth prevented our 
making a fair trial, but we bad somo good fruit. Others, 
who received their seeds direct from Alton, say it pro- 
duced all sorts of melons. Does tho Alton Horticultural 
Society endorse the Alton Nutmeg as a distinct variety ? 
Ycllow-birds.— "jr. B.," AVilliamsbridge, 
wishes to know how to keep yellow-birds out of his gar- 
den, as he finds them very mischievous. A small wind- 
mill, so arranged as to make a clatter, might answer. 
Who has had experience f 
Stone Fence Laying.- Thos. Lawson of 
Missouri asks directions for laying stone fences. It is 
hardly possible to give directions without knowing the 
character of the stones, the kind of soil, its liability to bo 
heaved by frost, etc. We have seen old stone fences not 
less than four feet high, and not more than 1G inches wide 
at the bottom, perhaps S on the top, and laid on the top of 
the ground at that, which had stood to be gray with mos- 
ses and lichens, while other walls 4 feet wide at the bot- 
tom, havinga base of boulders half sunken in the ground, 
and laid np in the most careful manner, which after thrco 
years was toppling down in spots from the effects of tho 
frost. A light wall will stand on loamy, sandy or gravelly 
land which has good drainage. As the land contains 
clay and moisture, the wall should be heavier, and laid 
with special precautions. An article on this subject in 
the Agriculturist for September lSGfi, illustrates the differ- 
ent ways of protecting walls from tho effects of frost. 
Dominiqnc vs. SSorliing. — We like 
the Dorkings greatly, but still consider the characteristic 
fifth toe a deformity. Our esteemed correspondent, Mr. 
F. R. Elliott, thinks otherwise, as he writes—" I fail to 
see the 'deformity' spoken of as being in tho 'fifth toe' 
To me it is no deformity — only a characteristic of tho 
breed,— as much as the penciling of the feathers is in 
that of tho Dominique,— and when fowls arc well bred, 
that fifth toe is as well separated as the others ou tho 
foot. Some years since I bred Domlniqucs, as well as 
several otlier breeds, but never have retained any breed 
except the colored Dorking over two years, and simply 
because they have not proved as profitable. My Dork- 
ings give me eggs almost continually, except when 
moulting. At six months old the male birds dress from 
five to six pounds each, and the females four to five 
pounds. They arc full, round, and plump for the table, 
and the flesh is second ouly to the Game." 
Mail.— "J. M.," Goshen, Ind. Hail storms 
come so suddenly that we know of no precautious that 
can bo taken to save yonr glas'from breakage. 
Itlixing. — "K. B.," Kitisey, Pa, Potatoes, 
cabbages, beets, rhubarb, and radishes, will not mix if 
planted near each other unless you raise seed. Corn 
shows the mixture the first season. Pumpkins, melons, 
and enenmbers do not mix with one another : the differ- 
ent varieties of each crop readily, but the mixture does 
not generally show itself iu the fruit until the next 
generation. Varieties of beans and peas mix morcor 
less, probably by the agency ui" insei I - 
