25 
1849. THE CULTIVATOR. 
looking ornaments are out of place on a farm house, 
and as a kind of example to operate against the other 
extreme—flimsiness. The only finish necessary for the 
roof projection, is, that the roof-boards over the pro¬ 
jecting part should be of inch and a-half stuff, (to pre¬ 
vent the shingle nails from coming through) planed on 
the under side, and matched. The eave trough might 
be of tin and nailed to the roof, or formed by nailing a 
narrow board to the edge of the lower roof board. The 
ceiling of the porch should be made in the same way 
as the roof projection; the posts of six inch stuff made 
octagonal by trimming off the corners, the top and bot¬ 
tom being left square. The front door I have repre¬ 
sented in the drawing as pointed. As, however, there 
is no other feature of the kind in the house, I have 
come to the conclusion that it looks ambitious and out 
of place, and I beg leave to have the reader consider 
it square. To the chimney I have sought to give an 
ornamental effect, by capping it with two slabs of 
stone. 
I will conclude with a few words in regard to the in¬ 
terior finish. In all parts of our country pine is the 
material most used for the interior woodwork of dwel¬ 
lings, and it is a common practice to cover it with 
white paint. How such a practice could ever have ob¬ 
tained, among an intelligent people, I cannot under¬ 
stand. Its warm lively color, wheu freshly planed, is 
peculiarly adapted to give to rooms a cheerful and 
smiling expression. When we know that this pleasing 
tint can easily be preserved, and rendered even more 
soft and bright by varnish, at no greater expense than 
would be incurred in giving it a good coat of paint, can 
we help being surprised that its beauties have been so 
long carefully concealed by the cold glare of white 
paint ? Besides, the color of the pine, as brought out 
and preserved by varnish, harmonizes with furniture 
much better than any paint, and would of itself add 
much, apparently to the furniture of a room. Darken¬ 
ed and mellowed by time, it would at length, with the 
inmates of the house, assume that sober though still 
cheerful expression, which gives to age one of its great¬ 
est charms. 
While on this subject I will say a word about black 
walnut, which, where the intention has been to varnish, 
has been used more than any other wood for the interi¬ 
or finishing. It has been much used in cabinet work, 
and is one of the most beautiful of our native woods. 
Its dark rich shades impart to the lofty apartments of 
mansions a stately and appropriate dignity, but for the 
rooms of ordinary residences, its sombre hue renders it 
quite inappropriate. And were I to have the choice of two 
evils, I would prefer white paint with its glare to black 
walnut in its gloom. F. J. Scott. Toledo, Ohio. 
The Working Woman’s Cottage. 
Editors of Cultivator— Thinking I may be of 
some use to the class to which I belong, I herewith 
send you a plan of a u Working Woman’s Cottage,” 
which is particularly adapted to her use. 
In sketching this house, my first and most important 
object is convenience; the next is pleasantness; the 
third, is economy in cost of building; the last, is a 
tasteful and inviting appearance. 
The main part of the house is 27 by 30 feet, one 
story and a-half high, with attic windows, above the 
veranda ; these windows answer every purpose for cham¬ 
bers, and are an ornament to a house. 
The veranda will be in front and on one side, with 2 
doors and 4 windows opening upon it, the blinds'must 
be alike to all, reaching to the floor. 
What a delightful place for the family group to as¬ 
semble in and spend the fine summer evenings, after 
they have finished the iabors of the day. If any abode 
on earth ought to be pleasant, it is that of a working 
family, their social privileges being more limite-d. 
The platform under woodhouse, should be large 
enough to wash on in the summer. E. Outside cellar 
door.—F. Pump. 
As you enter 
the kitchen fr’ra 
the woodhouse 
first comes the 
cooking stove, 
and fire place, 
next the closet 
(K-) for ket¬ 
tles, and many 
other things 
not fit to be put 
in the pantry; 
next, if you 
wish, the shelf 
for the water 
pail to stand 
on, the sink, 
with a shelf at 
the left hand to 
put dishes on; 
then the pantry 
door, with a 
space between 
that and the 
cellar door. 
Next in order 
is the sitting 
room, a pleas¬ 
ant convenient 
room; the wor¬ 
king woman’s 
sitting room, 
will also be her 
nursery, her li¬ 
brary, her ves- 
room, is plea¬ 
santly situated 
with a conve- 
nient closet,her 
parlor is handy 
by, where she 
9 — first floor. can use it at 
any time; her kitchen will also be her eating room, ex¬ 
cept in very warm weather. The chimney is to be 
built from the bottom of the cellar, with a fire-place if 
wanted. Stoves are best in winter, fire-places in spring 
and fall. 
I omit a hall, 
for the sake of 
convenience, to 
get the number 
of rooms wanted 
in a certain 
space, also to 
have doors, ope¬ 
ning upon the 
middle of each 
veranda. 
This house 
contains all the 
room a common 
sized family 
needs, with four 
sleeping rooms 
up stairs and two below. 
Some men will place a veranda on one side of a 
10 —SECOND FLOOR. 
