117 
responses will imply self-approbation: he has been em¬ 
ployed in providing for the wants of himself and fami¬ 
ly, and perhaps doing good to others. 
The idler is the drone which lives on the public hive, 
but adds nothing to its stores. 
The other is the laboring bee, which works not only 
for itself, but for the commonwealth. 
Let the young imitate the latter, if they would not, 
like the drone, become worthless outcasts. 
Capacity of Rain Water Cisterns. 
The following table, showing the number of gallons 
of water contained in cisterns of the diameters men¬ 
tioned, for each foot of their depth, is copied from a 
communication in the Farmers’ Cabinet. 
Diameter. Gallons in 1 foot. In 10 feet. 
5 feet,.. 120,. 1,200, 
6 “ .. 170,. 1,700, 
7 “ . 230,. 2,300, 
8 “ .. 308,. 3,080, 
9 “ . 390,..-. 3,900, 
10 “ . 480,. 4,800, 
So that a cistern 6 feet in diameter, and 10 feet deep, 
will hold 1,700 gallons, or fourteen hogsheads. 
THE BUDGET. 
Silk Reel .—It is out of our power to give to Mr. Geo. 
Bigelow the advice he asks of us in regard to silk reels, 
not having used any, though we have no hesitation in 
saying, that the silk business will ultimately do well, 
where it is managed as a family concern. 
We have had several inquiries for the constitution of 
the New-York State Agricultural Society. We have 
complied till we have not a copy left, and till we are 
unable to procure one for publication. 
Several correspondents have asked our opinion as to 
the best machines and implements, as threshing ma¬ 
chines, straw cutters, cultivators, drill-barrows, &c.— 
These are delicate questions to answer, especially as 
we have personal experience with but few of those 
which are offered for sale. All we can do is to speak 
well of those we know to be good. This wc have done 
freely. But we cannot speak of the comparative me¬ 
rits of those which we have not tried. Mr. Pitts, of 
whose threshing machine we have spoken in high com¬ 
mendation, is now located in Albany, and we have re¬ 
ferred the inquiries relative to his machine to him in 
person. 
Acknowledgment .—From W. Donaldson, a description 
of the Swartaria Mining District, illustrated by dia¬ 
grams. 
Plans and Estimates for Farm Dwelling-Houses. 
Distrusting our own judgment in this matter, we placed 
the several Plans and Essays on Farmers’ Dwelling-Houses, 
which we had received, in the hands of an eminent disinte¬ 
rested architect and builder, and an intelligent farmer, to ex¬ 
amine them, and advise us which was best entitled to our 
premium. After carefully examining them, the gentlemen 
have given it as their opinion, that the plan submitted by 
John Cain, of East-Clarendon, Vt. on account of its greater 
convenience, good proportions, and economy of structure, is 
entitled to a preference; and we therefore award to Mr. Cain 
our premium of TWENTY DOLLARS, in such article of 
plate as he may select. The plan of Mr. Jewett, of Wey- 
bridge, Vt. having been considered the second best, we ten¬ 
der to Mr. Jewett a bound set of five volumes of the Culti¬ 
vator, as a gratuitous premium. 
As the competitors have been at considerable labor in fur¬ 
nishing us plans and estimates, and as, moreover, different 
persons, may select different models, according to their means 
and their taste, we publish them all, omitting the details of 
the estimate of the cost, except Mr. Cain’s, which we give 
entire, as the price of materials will materially vary in diffe¬ 
rent districts. The estimated aggregate of cost is, however, 
stated at the foot of each communication. 
If this effort to improve our farm dwelling-houses, to ren¬ 
der them convenient, and to economize the cost, shall, as we 
think it will, afford useful hints to those who intend to build, 
and serve to lessen the burthen of female labor, in the dis¬ 
charge of domestic duties, we shall feel happy that our 
premium has been productive of public good. 
East Clarendon, Vt. March 18, 1839. 
Jesse Buel, Esq.—Sir—I am by profession an archi¬ 
tect and builder. I have built a great many dwelling- 
houses, but for the last five years past, I have been en¬ 
tirely employed in planning and superintending the 
erection of meeting-houses in this state. My place of 
residence is in the town of Clarendon, but I am at pre¬ 
sent superintending the erection of a splendid meeting¬ 
house in the town of Danby, (Rutland co.) and while 
here, a friend has let me have the number of the Cul¬ 
tivator for April last, in which I find a premium of $20 
offered for the best plan of a farm house, to cost from 
$1,500 to $2,000. Supposing, as I do, that such plans as 
may be sent in will be inspected by a committee ap¬ 
pointed for that purpose, and should I be aware that 
such committee were architects, I should not enter 
as competitor, because they might give preference 
and premium to one of their number, through friend¬ 
ship. But as I am of opinion, that the committee 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
appointed to decide on the merits of the plans, specifi¬ 
cations and estimates presented, will be composed of 
gentlemen having higher and better motives than favor¬ 
ing friends against merits, I therefore send you enclosed 
four plans, three ground and one elevation plan; also, 
a specification or description of the manner the several 
parts of work shall be done. With the plans and spe¬ 
cification, I also transmit to you an estimate of the ex¬ 
pense of building, embracing the several kinds of work 
and the different materials. 
Supposing that a small house, tolerably well finished, 
would be more acceptable to farmers generally, than a 
large one not so well finished, I have adopted 40 feet 
long and 28 feet deep, (or wide,) with an addition in 
the rear 24 by 20 feet. My great object has been to 
have all the convenience possible in a house of the 
above size, and a strict regard to proportion. And I 
flatter myself, that the enclosed plans, for cheapness in 
building, convenience and proportion, will be found wor¬ 
thy of a candid perusal. I only regret, that I cannot 
present and explain them to you personally, to remedy 
which, I must give a particular description of the seve¬ 
ral parts. I would here remark, that as a cellar is of 
great importance, particularly to a farmer, I have taken 
all pains to make it convenient, and have divided it by 
interior walls, which adds much strength to the floor 
above, as well as convenience below. 
SPECIFICATION". 
Stone Mason’s Work. —If the soil you select for the 
site is wet, swampy or moist, dig low enough to evade 
the frost, and fill the trench with cobble stone, hammer¬ 
ed down solid, upon which erect a cellar wall laid with¬ 
out any mortar, to the surface of the ground, which 
would probably be five feet; from thence up lay in mor¬ 
tar. Let the walls be two feet thick, and eight feet 
high, leaving spaces after getting up to the surface of 
the ground, for cellar windows, perpendicular to the 
windows of the principal story. Be careful to have 
none of the stone project outward, where the frost 
may affect, because such stone must either break or 
raise the whole fabric. 
Carpenter and Joiner’s Work. —The timbers compos¬ 
ing the roof ought to be got out to such a size as not to 
be too weak, and at the same time not too heavy, or they 
will have a bad effect on the walls. The doors to be 
six pannels, with mouldings on both sides the principal 
doors, and on one side of the more obscure ones. The 
doors entering into the two front rooms on the princi¬ 
pal story, to be cased with philacters; those not attach¬ 
ed to front rooms and lobby, to be cased with a plain 
casing, with a returned f thslaid on the edge, and an one 
inch Grecian ovelo for land moulding. The windows to 
have check rail sash, and the frame grooved to receive 
parting lands; sash l£ inches thick. 
I have made the plans and estimate, &c. for a brick 
building, the walls to be one foot thick. 
As my business is such, I have not now time to give 
a proper specification; suffice it to say, that in my esti¬ 
mate I have calculated the price of materials as they 
could be obtained in the town of Rutland, Vt. as in dif¬ 
ferent parts of the country the price would vary, and 
even in neighboring towns. I have, also, in making an 
estimate of the cost of building a farm-house according 
to the enclosed plans, calculated on a plain, good work¬ 
manlike building. 
Plan A.—[Fig. No. 23.] 
On plan A, you will observe, the walls are two feet 
thick. It is the ground plan for foundation wall, and 
shows the openings for the windows, and one opening 
for an outside door, with the steps to descend to cellar. 
S is the stairway that lands in the kitchen. The par¬ 
ticular place for the different kinds of sauce, &c. I have 
left to the option of the builder. 
Plan B.—[Fig. No. 24.] 
pal stairway, landing on the square platform D, which 
platform is seven feet above the lobby floor, so as to 
admit a passage underneath from front entrance E, 
through the doorway F, leading into the kitchen G.—• 
The stairs are built on a geometrical construction, turn¬ 
ed on a cylinder at H, and continuing from platform D, 
three steps, and landing at I, on plan C. The doorway 
marked J, leads to the cellar stairs, which go down un¬ 
derneath the principal stairs. K and L are doorways 
leading from the kitchen to the two front square rooms. 
M, a bed-room. N, a bed-room, with its door leading 
into the kitchen at O. P, the doorway and stairs (as 
back stairs,) leading into the room Q, on plan C. R, S 
and T, on plan B, are fire-places for kitchen and back 
kitchen. S, the oven. U, the buttery. V, pantry. W, 
back kitchen. X, back door. Y, Y, fire-places. Z, Z, 
cupboards. 
Plan C.—[Fig. No. 25.] 
Plan C, is the ground plan for chamber floor. Fig. 1, 
the stairway to the garret; 2, that portion of principal 
stairs seen from lobby, 3, with the three steps landing 
at J. The rear part of the house is intended to be only 
one story high, which admits the windows, 4, 4, above 
the roof of said back part, to light room Q. 5, is a door¬ 
way leading into room 6, which is over part of the 
kitchen; 7, kitchen chimney; 8, 8, bed-rooms; 9, 9, the 
flues of the fire-place, on plan A; 10, 10, fire-places for 
the two square chambers; 11,11, two windows in gable 
end of rear part. The room 6, to be lighted by two 
sky-lights, laid level with the shingles, with zinc or lead 
round the frame, to prevent leaking; the glass to lap as 
the shingles do, or as the roof of a hot-house. The re¬ 
mainder of plan C will explain itself, the rooms being 
bed chambers. 
Plan D.—[Fig. No. 26.] 
on plan B, and B the chimney 7 on plan C. C, the 
marble water table. D, underpinning, or that portion 
of the cellar wall seen above the surface of the ground 
at E, E, E. I should have shown the cellar windows, 
marked 5, 5, 5, on plan A. F, F, are the garret win¬ 
dows, the chimney brought up between them. I have 
not drafted a front elevation view, supposing that the 
plan B, with the front entrance door and two windows 
each side, and plan C, with the five windows placed as 
they are, will show all that is required. 
Some of the advantages or conveniences of these plans 
are, having the kitchen so near the centre of the house, 
and the buttery and two bed-rooms so convenient to the 
kitchen; also, having the cellar door and back stair 
door lead out of the kitchen, and having the square 
rooms, A, A, as dining room and sitting room so con¬ 
venient to the kitchen. I would here state, that from 
platform D, on plan B, to doorway 12, on plan C, there 
must be three steps, as at I, on plan C. 
ESTIMATE OF THE EXPENSE OF MATERIALS AND WORK, 
as they could, be obtained in the town of Rutland, Vt. 
68,000 brick, at $4 per thousand,.$272 00 
Laying 68,000 brick, including board and tend¬ 
ing, at $2.25 per thousand,. 153 00 
200 bushels lime, at 25c. per bushel,. 50 00 
800 bushels sand, at 2£c. per bushel,. 20 00 
6 boxes glass, at $3.12! per box,. 18 75 
7 cwt. nails, at CJc. per lb. 43 75 
9,000 feet lath boards, at $4 per thousand,.... 36 00 
5,000 feet lining boards for floors, at $4,. 20 00 
(If the floors were single and matched, the 
cost would be about the same, the work of 
matching being extra.) 
5,000 feet spruce floor boards, at $10 per 1,000, 50 00 
2,500 running feet of rafters and joist, at l|c. 
per foot,... 37 50 
800 feet square timber, at 3Jc. per foot,. 28 00 
20,000 pine shingles, at $2 per 1,000,. 40 00 
Brads, locks, latches, hinges, screws, &c. 30 00 
