January, 1913 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
57 
about the same, since no one type of fin¬ 
ish is limited to any one type of wall. Plas¬ 
ter wainscot, paneling or some one of the 
composition boards are all equally applica- 
able to a masonry or frame house. In the 
case of wainscoting or wood paneling it is 
advisable to rough plaster the wall behind 
to prevent dampness affecting the wood¬ 
work. In addition to this precaution the 
wood should be set free of the wall and 
creosoted on the back. The cost of panel¬ 
ing of course exceeds that of plastering, 
but ordinary yellow pine wainscoting or 
sheathing average about the same. 
The plasterer’s art is again to be revived 
after the fashion of the seventeenth and 
eighteenth century English work, and al¬ 
though this applies more to ceilings than 
to side walls, nevertheless smooth, old- 
fashioned plaster has fallen into ill-repute 
and side walls are now generally rough 
finished. It is now said by brick manufac¬ 
turers that an interior of artistically pat¬ 
terned brick can be built up at no greater 
cost than quarter-oak wainscoting. For 
certain rooms and particularly loggias this 
makes a most desirable treatment, and is 
steadily growing in favor. 
The last and cheapest interior covering 
to be taken up is some variety of com¬ 
position board. These boards come in 
sheets of varying sizes one-quarter of an 
inch thick, and may easily be cut by any 
saw to fit conditions. However, there are 
certain limitations to this material. It can¬ 
not be used if there is excessive moisture, 
even where the rest of the house has been 
freshly plastered, as it will surely bulge. 
The directions as to the spacing of studs 
and the way in which the sheets must run 
should all be carefully followed. 
Our country has long lain under the ac¬ 
cusation of “jerry building,” supposed to 
be the result of the extensive use of wood. 
This is unjust to that time-honored ma¬ 
terial, for no style was ever more sincere 
or more solidly constructed than our early 
wooden Colonial. The truth is that in¬ 
stability is less a question of material than 
of method. Any honestly built wall will 
endure if properly protected against 
weather. 
Ferns That Can Be Grown Success¬ 
fully Indoors 
(Continued from page 36) 
makes a very attractive and easily man¬ 
aged bit of decoration for the dining- or 
living-room table. 
While the three types enumerated above 
—the sword ferns, maidenhairs and spider 
^ rr ? s — con tain the great majority of va¬ 
rieties available for house culture, there 
are a few others which should not be over¬ 
looked. Chief among these is the Holly 
Fern (Cyrtomium falcatum ), which, with 
its dark green, substantial, glossy foliage 
making it, next to ordinary Boston ferns, 
Seven Million Watch-Towers 
in the Bell System 
The original campanili were the 
.vatch-towers of old Venice, guard¬ 
ing the little republic from invasion 
by hostile fleets. 
Later, bells were mounted in 
these same towers to give warning 
of attack and celebrate victories. 
Judged by modern telephone 
standards, such a system of com¬ 
munication seems crude and in¬ 
adequate. 
In the civilization of to-day, a 
more perfect intercommunication is 
essential to national safety, con¬ 
venience and progress. 
The Bell System binds together 
a nation of nearly one hundred 
million people, by “highways of 
speech” extending into every nook 
and corner of this great country. 
Seven million Bell telephone 
stations are the watch-towers 
which exchange, daily, twenty-five 
million messages for the happiness, 
prosperity and progress of all the 
people. 
American Telephone and Telegraph Company 
And Associated Companies 
One Policy One System Universal Service 
Sewage 
Disposal 
For Country Homes 
Without Sewers 
Health and self-respect demand that dangerous, 
repulsive cesspools, etc., must go. The Ashley Sys¬ 
tem will provide scientific and safe sewage dis¬ 
posal at moderate cost. Write for illustrated Man¬ 
ual on Sewage Purification and Disposal for Coun¬ 
try Homes. 
We also provide Sewage Disposal for Institu¬ 
tions, Schools, etc. 
ASHLEY HOUSE-SEWAGE DISPOSAL CO. 
116 Armida Avenue Morgan Park, Ill. 
Free Book — “ Plants and Plans 
for Beautiful Surroundings ” 
This handsome book will give you invaluable help in 
your home planting whether yours is a large estate or a 
modest suburban lot. Tells how to select and how to 
plant for quickest results and most artistic effects with 
Wagner Hardy Flowers, Roses, Trees and Shrubs. Places 
the services of the Wagner Park Landscape department 
at your disposal without cost. Write today. 
WAGNER PARK NURSERIES Box 708 SIDNEY, OHIO 
In writing to advertisers please mention House and Garden, 
