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inches wide and 1 inch thick. To open the door, turn the piece, a, to the right and pull down on the crosspiece which is fastened to the door by a bolt in the middle. This will raise the latch, c, and lower the latch, d, as shown in the cut to the right.

Open your doors to a fine day, but make yourself ready for a foul one.

Prosperity is the thing in the world we ought to trust the least.

FASTENING THE STABLE DOOR

A handy stall door fastener is shown in Figure I. It consists of a piece of oak or other hard wood

FIGURE I-LONG FASTENER

4 inches wide by % inch thick and 2 inches longer than the width of the door. It is fastened to the door by a 38inch bolt through the middle and it works like a button. Cleats, b, are sawed out and fastened to the door jamb on each side to hold the fastener in place.

Another handy fastener that can be worked from either side of the door is shown in Figure 2.

There are three upright pieces, a, two of which are on the door and one on the door jamb or casings. Another piece, b, slides through these and holds the door shut. A pin, c, goes through the bolt and through the door to open or shut it from the α opposite side. The bolt is kept shut by the spring, which can be made from a piece of hickory, or other tough hardwood, whittled down to the proper thickness. The spring feature is the chief advantage, and a

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SPRING

FIGURE 2-SPRING FASTENER

very important one it is, of this excellent fastener. It is also a good point that the fastener works nicely from the opposite side of the door.

Sell cheap and you will sell as much as four others.

They must hunger in frost that will not work in heat.

'Tis easier to build two chimneys than to maintain one.

HOMEMADE DOOR LATCH

HANDLE

This consists of three pieces of oak or other good hardwood, as shown in the drawing. For the handle use a piece 8 x 2 x 1 inches. Shape a flattish knob on one end 3 inches long. Work down the rest so as to pass through a 1-inch auger hole. Shape a knob on the other end by flattening the sides. The latch is made of a

CATCH

LATCH

DETAILS OF LATCH

piece 5 x 1 x 8 inches.

The catch is 8 x 2 x 34

inches. Bore a 1-inch hole for the handle 3 inches

from the edge of the
door. Push the handle

through the hole and
mark on it the thick-
ness of the door; then
bore in the handle a
3-inch hole for the
latch. Now assemble
the parts according to
the finished
finished figure,
which shows the latch
thrown back. A little
peg may be used to
keep the latch from
falling down when the
door is open. By tak-
ing pains to shape and

LATCH IN PLACE

finish this latch nicely it will look well enough to please the artistic eye of the most fastidious.

When We Build

IMPORTANT POINTS IN HOUSE BUILDING

HE following points in building a house are considered of the greatest importance by a well-known architect: Carefully watch that the foundation walls are substantially laid, and accurately leveled on their upper surfaces, so that the doors shall not strike the floor or carpets in opening, nor the tables, chairs, or other furniture be obliged to stand on three legs.

The framework, when raised, should be plumb, so that all on or in the building can be cut square, and applied without tedious fitting. The siding should be thoroughly seasoned in the open air before using, and carefully applied with close joints, and well nailed. The edges of all water tables, corner boards, and window frames should be painted before setting.

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The shingles should be carefully laid, breaking their joints at one-third of their width and double nailed. The flooring should be dry, close laid, and nailed with two nails to each beam. The partitions should be set with studding of selected width, and their angles or corners should be anchored firmly together to prevent the walls from cracking in those parts when finished. The chimneys should be carefully constructed, all points between the brickwork should be well filled with mortar to prevent sparks from passing through to the framework.

All mortar for plastering should be properly mixed, and allowed sufficient time (at least a week) for the thorough slacking of the lime, and a complete permeation of the caustic properties. Thin coats of plastering are better than heavy ones. A mortar that does not crack in setting or drying is sure to be good.

The interior wood finish should not be begun until the plastering is completely dried out, and all loose mortar is removed from the building. All woodwork usually painted should be primed as soon as in position.

A VERY CONVENIENT HOUSE

The accompanying picture and plans show the outside and interior arrangements of a very convenient home built the past year by one of our

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agricultural editors. It is 34 feet wide by 30% feet deep, with a 7-foot cellar underneath. The house

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