]\ I A Y 
1912 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
not best to have a well in the cellar, but 
if your soil will permit of drainage it can 
be filled up. A spring, however, is a dif¬ 
ferent thing. Better waste no further 
time with such a problem, unless the nui¬ 
sance be small and the slope of the land 
sufficient to carry a drain under the house 
wall and clap a concrete bottom on the 
cellar. Unless the house appeals very 
strongly, it will hardly warrant this ex¬ 
pense. 
Not to be overlooked are the chimneys. 
They may hide untold evils, evils which 
may mean the total destruction of the 
house. This consideration is by far the 
more uncertain in a house that has stood 
idle and wherein the masonry may have 
had a chance for great deterioration, 
since it was last used. The entire rebuild¬ 
ing of a chimney under the usual condi¬ 
tions attending old work makes it an ex¬ 
pensive job, and yet when the flues are of 
considerable size, as is common in the 
majority of old houses, one may get over 
the difficulty by introducing a circular 
metal flue and filling in about it with con¬ 
crete. Of course it is understood that al¬ 
terations are of two kinds—vital, and 
merely convenient. The chimney is de¬ 
cidedly of the former. One can tell much 
of the condition in the attic and cellar, 
where the masonry is exposed. A pointed 
iron or often a good umbrella stick, will 
determine whether the brickwork be in a 
soft condition or not. When soft bricks 
have been used they are apt to have suf¬ 
fered much from the invasion of water, 
and will sometimes crumble at the touch. 
Having obtained a general idea of the 
interior we may pass on to the exterior. 
As a general thing old houses sat too low, 
and dampness and much of the evil of 
decayed sills have originated from this 
source. If your problem is one of these, 
will the structure stand raising a foot or 
more? Sills must be reasonably sound to 
do this without considerable expense. 
Perhaps a simple area and larger cellar 
windows may solve the problem. 
Right here it might be well to state that 
much of the old look may have to be sac¬ 
rificed in making the necessary repairs. 
Is it the weather-beaten effect or the gen¬ 
eral design that pleases? Weathering 
may not necessarily have led to decay. 
Often such effects may be preserved. 
Then, too, it may involve more expense 
to repair a comparatively complete and 
satisfactory design than to convert a 
sound example not so pleasing. 
Near trees are often valuable to the 
general scheme, and serve more than any 
other thing to relieve the sameness of an 
otherwise barren composition. Their 
shade, too, excels all artificial contrivances. 
And yet they should not be too closely set 
to the house, as they may induce damp¬ 
ness, and if overhanging the roof, the 
decay of roof covering and gutters. So 
do not fool yourself by such a leafy de¬ 
lusion ; you may be obliged to sacrifice a 
pet ideal to gain the healthy conditions of 
light and air. 
Should your roof shingles be old or 
^ Cool in Summer \ 
Warm in Winter—Quiet Alt the Time 
These results are assured with buildings in which Keystone Hair 
Insulator is used. No other sheathing material has as high insulating 
properties or as perfect sound-deadening qualities. The Reason: 
Keystone Hair Insulator 
is' made of a heavy layer of cleansed and sterilized cattle hair securely 
fastened between two sheets of strong, non-porous building paper. This 
produces in the finished material innumerable air cells, which are the 
secret of perfect heat insulation, and also a cushion effect which abso¬ 
lutely prevents the transmission of sound waves through the material. 
Keystone will not pack down or settle; will n 
will not rot nor attract moisture and will not carr; 
lutely inodorous and vermin-proof. 
Write nearest branch for Samples and Catalog 102 
H. W. JOHNS-MANVILLE CO. 
Manufacturers of Asbestos fiS Asbestos Roofings, Packing 
and Magnesia Products 'UA Electrical Supplies, Etc. 
Baltimore Cleveland Kansas City New Orleans Pittsburgh 
Boston Dallas Los Angeles New York San Francisco 
Buffalo Detroit Milwaukee Omaha Seattle 
Chicago Indianapolis Minneapolis Philadelphia St. Louis 
For Canada:—THE CANADIAN H. W. JOHNS-MANVILLE CO., LTD. 
Toronto, Ont. Montreal, Que. Winnipeg, Man. Vancouver, B. C. 
810 
High Grade, Northern Grown 
Deciduous and Evergreen Trees, Shrubs, 
Vines, Roses, and Herbaceous Perennials, 
Trees for Orchard, Park and Eorest 
Planting. 
We solicit correspondence relative to any 
planting problem. 
Scntf for our Illustrated Catalog. 
The Nev/ England Nurseries Co. 
Bedford, Massachusetts 
[ORlGlMMANUFAfeTtlRERl 
W FLOOR MADE 
FOR CHURCHES, SCHOOLS. BANKS. PUBLIC BUILDINGS^^ 
^ THEATRES AND PRIVATE RESIDENCES. BEING SANITARY^ 
NON-SLIPPERY, SOFT AND COMFORTABLE TO THE TREAD, 
BEAUTIFUL IN COLORS AND DESIGNS AND DURABLE. 
NEWYORK,N Y91-95 CHAMBERS ST B0ST0N,MASS.252SUMMER5T 
INDIANAPOLIS, IND,l?0 SO.tlfRIDIANSl. PORTLAND ORE 90 FIRST ST 
CHICAGO. ILL. 130 WEST LAKE ST. SAN FRANCISCO CALI29-I3I fIRSISI 
ST. LOUIS. MO. 2 18 220 CHESTNUTS! PITTSBURGH.PA 420 FIRST AVE 
PHILADELPHIA.PA.821-823 ARCHST. SPOKANE,WASHJ63 5,LINC0LRSI 
LONDON.ENGLANHITD SOUTHamHON ROW. 
In writing to advertisers please mention House and Garden. 
