52 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[February, 
and it should be obtainable on every farm—mix it 
with enough water to make it so thin that it will 
apply evenly with a brush. It may be necessary to 
use hot water, and it should be only so diluted that 
it will work readily. Use a white-wash brush, or 
large paint brush, and 
lay it on well upon the 
trunk or the larger 
branches. The best time 
to do turn is in the long, 
damp, and foggy spells 
that are common in Feb¬ 
ruary and early March. 
The soap liquid will 
not dry soon, but have 
several ..ays to act be¬ 
fore it is wasned off by 
the rains, if the genu¬ 
ine homemade soap is 
not to be had, then use 
a wash made of potash 
—a pound to the gal¬ 
lon of water—and apply 
it in a similar manner. 
The advice occasion¬ 
ally given to make a 
wash by heating sal-so¬ 
da, and then dissolving 
it, is simply nonsense. 
Sal-soda is not render¬ 
ed caustic by heat¬ 
ing, and it is no differ¬ 
plans. If intended for a Summer Cottage, or Gate 
Lodge, for persons of larger means, the matter of 
exterior dress would assume quite a different aspect, 
and admit of more liberal treatment- Ground 
IPlsita, (fig. 2.)—The arrangement shown is adapt- 
1.—FRONT ELEVATION OF HOUSE. 
ent when dissolved, than the same would have been 
without heating—nothing but water having been 
expelled. But we started to describe Mr. Snook’s 
scrapers. He says:—“ That in figure 1 has a mov¬ 
able handle from a foot and a half to three feet in 
length, the. latter length being required for tall 
trees. The scraper is a piece of steel, about five 
inches square, two sides being straight, while 
Fig. 2.—TREE SCRAPER. 
the other two sides are hollowed out, so that .it 
may the more readily adapt itself to the surface 
trunk, and the curves should be of different sizes, 
one to suit the trunk, and the other the branches. 
Another f<vm is shown in figure 2 ; one of the sides 
being straight,while the 
other two sides of trian¬ 
gle are curved for the 
purpose just mention¬ 
ed. A hole is made 
through the center of 
Fig. 3. BOLT FOR scraper, both scrapers, which are 
secured to the handle 
by a threaded bolt (fig. 3,) one-half an inch in 
diameter, and four inches in length, to the end of 
which is welded a piece of iron, one and a half¬ 
inch square, and one quarter of an inch thick. 
This bolt, when screwed into end of the handle, 
will hold either of the scrapers firmly in position. 
A Country House, Costing $550 to $700. 
BT 6. B. REST), ARCHITECT, CORONA, LONG ISLAND, N. T. 
This is one of four plans given consecutively, in 
response to many calls for “very low-priced 
houses.”—It will accommodate a small family well, 
and has a pleasing appearance_Exterior, 
(fig. 1.)—The Front has sufficient variety of parts 
to insure a fair degree of picturesque effect. An 
allowable amount of neat tracery Is admitted in the 
composition of the gables, and between the piazza 
columns, to give an expression of taste, and cheer¬ 
fulness. More than this would not accord with the 
utility and economy especially aimed at in these 
cd to an Eastward frontage, placing the Entrances 
and the Living-Room on the pleasant side where 
least exposed to northerly winds, and cold. Should 
an opposite frontage be selected, the plan may be 
suited to it by reversing the sides, as this would be 
reflected if held before a mirror. The hight of the 
ceilings is 10 feet. The front entrances open 
directly from the piazza to the Parlor and Living- 
Room. These entrances may be protected in win¬ 
ter by a sash inclosure, forming a pleasant vesti¬ 
bule of a part of the piazza. The principal rooms 
are a Parlor, Kitchen, and two Bedrooms. The 
Parlor is in front of the main building, and of suf¬ 
ficient size for the ordinary uses of such an apart¬ 
ment. The Kitchen is intended as the Living- 
Room, where the family maintaining the simplicity 
of cottage life, spend much of their indoor time, 
sharing together the domestic cares and comforts. 
It is sufficiently spacious to admit of the requisite 
furniture, and allow of the ordinary family gather¬ 
ing without crowding. It has three window's ; if 
desired, the upper part of the front door may have 
sashes, giving views in three directions. The 
pantry, and lobby, at the rear, are of equal size, 
both opening from the kitchen. The two Bedrooms 
adjoin each other, (but have no communication be¬ 
tween them in the plan. This may be arranged as 
desired.) One opens from the parlor, the other 
from the kitchen, and each has a closet. The 
chimney is placed between the kitchen and parlor, 
with an open fire-place on the kitchen side. The 
method of heating, described in last December 
American Agriculturist, would insure the comfort¬ 
able warming of both of the principal rooms from 
one kitchen fire_ Cellar, (fig. 3.)—Hight, 6S 
feet. The dimensions embrace the space below the 
kitchen and the bedrooms (the part under the par¬ 
lor is unexcavated); it has three windows,and an out¬ 
side entrance Construction. —The foun¬ 
dation walls are of broken stone and mortar, and 
show 2 feet above ground. Those under the parlor 
are laid in trenches, extending below the reach of 
frost. The chimney is of hard brick and mortar. 
The frame work, roofing, and exterior plastering, 
are similar to those described in last number. The 
gables are inclosed with vertical boarding, having 
their low'er ends cut to pattern, and are battened 
over the joints. The ornamental verges in the 
gable cornices, are of pine boards, and, being of 
simple design, are readily made, and put in position 
while building. A pleasing effect is produced by 
“liningoff” the surface of the exterior plastering 
into con .ses or squares. This is easily done with a 
“straight-edge,” and an S shaped iron while fin¬ 
ishing. The final “ Stearate ” covering (see last 
month) may be divided and shaded in two parts, and 
so applied as to give the alternate squares slight 
changes of shade. The best results may he ob¬ 
tained from exterior plastering where properly 
done. It is impervious to either air or water, and 
therefore equrds the more expensive methods of in- 
closure for houses of this character. It should not 
be attempted over horizontal lines of framework, as 
the shrinking and consequent contraction will cause 
a bilging and cracking of the plaster at those points. 
Whenever obliged to cross such timbers, the up¬ 
right frame work must be halved on to them, and 
continued in whole lengths, to prevent such con¬ 
tractions. All joinings with the exterior wood 
Fig. 3.— FLAN OF CELLAR. 
finish must he carefully made, especially at the top, 
to prevent water from entering, and running down 
behind the walls. Wide projectives of cornices af¬ 
ford a valuable protection for such walls against 
driving storms. Exterior plastering may be done 
in any season that is free from frost. An ordinary 
rain will do no injury to either of the two coats of 
plaster after they have become hard. The “ Stear¬ 
ate,” described last month, should be applied as 
soon as the plastering is thoroughly dried. 
Estimate for cost of materials and labor: 
51 yards excavation, at 20 cents per yard.$ 10.80 
1300 feet foundation, at 10K cents per foot. 136.50 
1250 brick, laid, at $12 per 1.000. 15 00 
28 feet stone steps and sills at 28 cents per foot. 7.81 
120 yards exterior plastering, at 30 cents per yard_ 30.00 
224 “ interior “ “ 25 “ *• — 56.00 
1700 feet of timber, at $15 per M . 25.50 
.. ‘ """ 9 posts, 4x6 inches 10 feet long. 
14 beams. 3xS in. 16 feet lone. 
7 beams, 3xS in. 13 feet. long. 
10 beams, 2x8 in. 16 feet long. 
7 beams, 2x8 in. 13 feet- long. 
1 piazza, 2x8 in. 18 feet long. 
.... 20.00 
Cornice materials and Gable finish . . 18.25 
ISO shingling lath, at 5c. eacli. p-00 
16 spruce planks, at 20c. each. 3-20 
34 bundles shingles, at $1.25 per bunch. 42.50 
80 flooring planks, at 20c. $16 ; piazza, $40. 56.00 
3 cellar windows, $9; 8 plain windows. $56. bo.00 
11 doors, $44 ; closet finish, $12 ... . 50.00 
Nails. $10 ; carting, $ 12. .. —. 22.00 
Painting. $30; carpenter's labor, $io .. lOo.OC 
Incidentals. ..— 7 s.4 i 
2 sills, 3x8 in. 30 feet long. 
3 sills. 3x8 in. 16 feet long. 
2 sills, 3x8 in. 13 feet long. 
2 plates, 4x6 in. 30 feet long 
3 plates, 4x6in. Hifeet long 
2 plates, 4x6 in. 13 feet long 
200 wall strips, at 10c. each. 
Om-niup and (I 
Total Cost.$706.00 
If cellar is omitted, deduct . 167.14 
Cost without cellar, 
.$532.86 
