332 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[September, 
ting together the most striking uniformity in these 
respects that I ever have seen ; hut, as is almost 
universally the case, his eye has wandered, in seek¬ 
ing these points, away from the true purpose of 
Jersey breeding, which should he to increase the 
amount of udder products. Among the large sta¬ 
ble full of solid-colored animals, there are two or 
three of striking excellence, but the majority were 
well down toward mediocrity as milkers, while in an 
adjoining stable—to which he had banished the 
animals showing white marks—there were several 
of excellent quality, and one, which to my mind, 
was in beauty and in quality very far ahead of all 
the rest of the herd. 
A “Half Stone” House 
BY 8. B. REED, ARCHITECT, CORONA, 
for 
$3,000. 
LONG ISLAND, N. T. 
This plan is designed for a substantial, conve¬ 
nient, and inexpensive country house. It has two 
full finished stories with well lighted apartments 
of good size, and a large cellar and attic. It has 
also the merit of architectural beauty, well adapted 
Fig. 1.— FRONT VIEW OF HOUSE. 
to the windows of this story. One such balcony is 
shown over the wing roof (fig.l); the others may be 
similar. The small cost of these devices is fully 
repaid in their usefulness for airing purposes, be¬ 
sides imparting a cheerful appearance_ Garret 
or Attic.—This story is thoroughly floored, but 
otherwise unfinished. Should additional chambers 
be required, partitions may be set over those of the 
second story, duplicating that plan, with rooms 
having the same hight of ceilings. The Stairs are 
placed immediately above those of the lower stories, 
are ceiled in, and have a door at the foot_ Foil- 
struction. —The durability, general abundance, 
and substantial appearance of stone, make it the 
most desirable and appropriate material known for 
the exterior walls of any building. The cost of 
cutting and dressing such material ready for use is 
the principle barrier to its general adoption. By 
using bricks for corners and for the finish around 
the openings, the most expensive item of stone¬ 
work is saved. They need only to be “ random 
dressed ” and laid nearly in the shape in which they 
are quarried, as more particularly described in the 
July American Agriculturist , 1876. When such 
walls are carried beyond the hight that is conve¬ 
nient for the handling of 
the materials, the expense 
of their construction is 
largely increased. It is 
for this reason that the 
“half-stone” method is 
particularly valuable. In 
this plan the stone-work 
extends only to the hight 
of the ceiling of the first 
story ; to this hight the 
materials may be readily 
wheeled on trestled scaf¬ 
folding, while to double 
this hight would require 
the use of the tedious der¬ 
rick, and additional help. 
The upper stories are 
framed of the usual sized 
timber, and raised on the 
6tone walls, which in this 
case become their foun¬ 
dation. The main roof is 
constructed as shown in 
the American Agriculturist 
for June, 1876. The 
to a commanding location_ Exterior (fig. 1). 
—The “ half-stone ” composition of the side walls, 
and the strong outlines and slating of the main roof 
give to this structure a rustic, yet substantial ap¬ 
pearance, affording both diversity and picturesque¬ 
ness, as shown in the variety of the openings, and 
irregularity of the several parts. The front and 
rear elevations are similar; by changing the en¬ 
trance doors and stairs, either side may front the 
road. The details of exterior finish are so simple, 
and easy of execution, that any “modification for the 
rear ” is undesirable. Inharmonious and unsight¬ 
ly curtailments in the rear finish have a depressing 
influence on those obliged to face them daily, 
which can never be overcome by knowing there is 
a good front_ Cellstr (fig. 2).—Hight, 61 feet, 
of which 41 feet is below the ground surface, and 
therefore (with its thick walls), frost proof. It is 
always important to provide for carrying oil the 
poisonous vapors always generated in damp cellars. 
For this purpose side openings are made near the 
ceilinginto one of the flues of each chimney. These 
flues extending to the top and warmed by contact 
with the fires of the upper stories, have sufficient 
draft to constantly change the cellar air and pre¬ 
vent its ascent through the living rooms... .First 
Story (fig. 3).—Hight of ceilings, 10 feet. Here 
are conveniently placed : three large rooms, a hall, 
china closet, and large pantry. Each large room 
has commodious windows with views in two direc¬ 
tions. The Pleasant Piazzas at both the front and 
rear of the Parlor, extend over and protect the en¬ 
trance doors- Second Story (fig. 4).—Hight 
of ceilings, 8 feet. The divisions are very simple, 
a hall, four chambers, four closets, and a bath¬ 
room. Light railings may be put on the roofs of 
the Wings and Piazzas to form .pleasant Balconies 
hight requiring siding is4i feet, or including water 
table and cornice, 6i feet from the stone-work of 
the first story to the slating of the roof. The main 
roof covering is of dark slate laid on tarred felt. 
At or near the floor line dividing the upper stories, 
it is appropriate to indicate the division by the use 
of tinted slate, which may be laid in close courses 
or in simple figures as shown on the elevation. 
The roofs of the Hooded and Dormer Windows are 
also slated. The deck of the main roof, and the 
roofs of the piazzas, are covered with I. C. charcoal 
tin. The wood finish is made of simple design, 
devoid of all efforts at pretentious display, each 
part being chosen with especial regard for its util¬ 
ity and appropriateness. The Trusses, Piazza Col¬ 
•PLAN OF CELLAR. 
umns, and Soffits are worked of timber neatly stop- 
champered, imparting a rustic appearance to.them, 
in keeping with the stone work. The Water Tank 
is placed in the attic, directly above and in line 
with the Bath-tub and Kitchen-range, favoring the 
most practical plumbing. The Soil-pipe leading 
from the Bath-room floor passes down through the 
closet adjoining the kitchen chimney, to the Sewer- 
pipe, which is laid below the cellar bottom. The 
bad smells and gases arising from confined sew¬ 
age may be easily disposed of by the insertion of a 
2-inch pipe into the closet trap (at its highest point), 
and connecting it with a flue of the adjoining chim¬ 
ney. All inside plastering is of three-coat work. 
The casing of the bath-room and around all plumb¬ 
ing is in hard wood; all other trimming of clear 
pine. The Newel Kail and Baluster on the first 
story flight of stairs are of black walnut. All work 
usually painted has two coats of best lead and lin¬ 
seed-oil, with stainers to give the body (outside), a 
light gray, and trimmings in imitation of “ Nova 
Scotia stone.” Inside, Parlor and Hall, in grays; 
Dining-room in grays and drabs; Kitchen in drabs ; 
Chambers, white... .Cost.— Prices of building 
materials are nearly as low as they were before the 
war ; many kinds are really selling for the cost of 
their production or manufacture. Labor is also 
very cheap, nearly at old figures. Those contem¬ 
plating building, and having the means at hand to 
do so, need not wait for a more favorable time. As 
soon as general business improves, there must be a 
“ rise ” in materials, especially such as requires to 
be manufactured. The estimate appended includes 
the cost of all materials and labor for good work at 
the prices now ruling near New York city. 
Estimate of t!ie Cost : 
126 yards Excavation, (ft 20c. per yard.$ 25.20 
158 perches Stone Work, @ $2.75 79 perch.434,50 
91 feet Stone Sills and Steps, @ 30. per foot. . 27.30 
7,000 Bricks in angles, and chimneys. @ $12 $ 1,000, laid. S4.II0 
750 yards Plastering, @ 35c. per yard.202.50 
4,262 feet Timber, @ 2c. per ft. 85.24 
viz. 2 Girders, 4x8 in. x 18 ft. long. 1 Sill, 3x8in.xl75 ft. long. - 
3 Girders, 4x8 in. x 10 ft. long. 1 Plate, 4x6in. x 175 ft. l'g 
lti Beams, 3x8 in. x 16ft. long. 1 Deck, 3x7 in.xlnO ft. l'g 
32 Beams, 3x8 in.xIS ft. long. 5 Beams, 3x8in.x 9 ft. l'g. 
12 Beams, 3x8 in. x 22 ft. long. 4 Beams, 3x5 in. 20 ft. l'g. 
16 Beams, 3x8 in. x 24 ft. long. 
340 Wall Strips, @ 13c. each. 44.20 
100 Furring Strips. @ 6c. eacli. 6.00 
Cornice materials... 50.00 
75 Siding Boards @ 26c. each. 19.50 
357 Hemlock Boards, @ 16p. each.57.12 
18 squares of Plate, complete, @ $9 79 square.162.00 
14"^ squares of Tin, complete, @ $8 79 square. 116.00 
350 Flooring Plank, 8 inch, <3 25c. each. 87.50 
2 Piazzas, complete, @ $80 each.160.00 
7 Cellar Windows, complete, @ $5 eacli.35.00 
14 plain Windows, complete, @ $S each.112.00 
11 Hooded Windows, complete, @ $15 each.165.00 
8 Dormer Windows, complete, ® $8 each.r. 61.00 
Stairs, complete.90.00 
23 Doors, complete. @ $9 each.207.00 
3 Mantels, complete. ® $25 each. 75.00 
Closet finish, complete . 20.00 
Range and Plumbing.175.00 
Nalls, $25; Painting, $80 ; Cartage, $30. . 135.00 
Carpenter's labor not included above. 150.00 
Incidentals, Attic and elsewhere. 150.94 
Total Cost, complete.$3,uuo,oa 
