The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-04-05
VOL. XVII.

The CELLAR I'm equable climates the
cellar is little needed but in Ohio, where
Fahrenheit's thermometer falls, in winter,
20 degrees below zero, and in summer rises
to the neighbOrhoOd of 100 degrees, the cell
lar is indispensable to the preservation OF
many kinds of food from the destructive in
auence of one or the other extremes. The
length of the winter must have its weight iu
fixing the dimensions of this general maga-
zine, and the unsteadincss OF our winter
weather is Us worthy Of consideration rs its
severity, for this makes some easily regulat-
ell means Of ventilation as important as the
means of keeping out the frost. To keep
food we'll, a cool, dry, and well-aired room
is necessary; close, moist, warm one is the
worst possible place for the purpose and,
besides its worthlessness, il will soon difIuse
its disagreeablo and unwhOlesOme Odors over
the whole house.
TIE RooF.-Whether roofs should DO fiat
or steep is not mere question OF taste, to be
settled by Greeks or Swiss on the contrary,
il must be determined, in n great measure,
by the yearly precipitation of snow and rin.
Heavy falls OF snow require steep root, free
from all distractions that would hinder the
snow from readily slipping of An annual
rainfall Of forty inches or upwards, the
quantity that falls in most places in Ohio,
and the occasional fall of an inch or more in
the course ofa few hours, or even minutes,
makes the pitch OF the rOOf and means of es-
cape for the water matters OF great practical
importance. How much roof should pro-
iect beyond the ends and sides Of the building
and how such projections should be support
ed. must depend on tho force of winds in the
locality, as much as on the amount OF rain.
The influence Of the climate is manifest
enough to the traveller in Egypt, where it
never rains, and WHERE, in consequence,
houses have no roofs at all while at Vera
Cruz, where about seven times as much rain
falls in n year Us in Ohio, the roof in conse-
quencc, as in position, oyertops everything
TnE WALLS.-A carpenter will endeayor
to make his walls strong enough to support
the floors andall that is expected to be placed
on them in addition 10 the weight of the
roof, but will he also calculate the possible
force OF the wind In many parts OF the
country, violent storms or hurricanes Occa-
siCnally occur, which sometimes exert II force
of thirty pounds to a square foot il then, a
building may almost suddenly be exposed to
side pressure of ten OF fifteen tons from
this cause, il is well that such fact should
be taken into the account at the time of its
erection. But strength is not the only re-
quisite in a wall; it is necessary To provide
means TO prevent the transmission Of heat in |
winter outwards, and of heat and moisture
inwards in summer, and thus the tempera-
ture of the atmosphere, and its hygrometric |
states become necessary subjects OF attention
to wall builders.
WINDOWS AND DOoRs.-A principal use
of windows is the transmission OF light the
general clearness and brightness of the at
mosphere should therefore be chief element
in calculating the number and size of win
dows. That this is often left entirely out OF
the account is evident from the many houses
that are to be seen that are almost all win |
dows, and what is worse, without hoods or |
blinds, OF protection of any kind. and that,
too under the brightest skies in the world.
A soft, mild, light in summer is very agree
able but what can be more uncomfortable Q
than the unObstructed rays of the sun in
room during the hottest days Curtains are
a poor apology for the want,of hoods or caps
or such expedients ON the outside of house
as will throw the window into pleasant
shade without obstructing the view. Again
how desirable il is TO avoid doors on the
windward side of the house or If such are
unavoidable, how much annoyance may be
saved from gusts Of wind and drafts by pro-
tecting these doors by good quiet porch or
recess.
TnE LocArIoN.-The place where one must
build is often determined by the neighbor-
hood of the road, water. or other uncontrol-
able circumstance; nevertheless there are
many cases where the bearings OF climate
may and ought to be considered. The wind
ward side OF swamp or damp vally is vast
ly more agreeable and healthy than the lee
ward side An eminencc, exposed to every
breeze would be preferable in hot climate,
but in cold countries sheltered valley Is
more desirable. Sun, and shade, and pre-
yailing winds may often adyantageously con-
troll the direction of the frontage of house,
even where there can DO M. change in loca-
ton.
What we want is a style of building based
on the climate and state Of the country, and
on the habits aud wants OF our people, and
not upon models derived from other coun-
tries. The architecture Of foreign eoun-
try may be beautiful in its adaptations TO
all the condition Of that country, and still
be miserably adapted to ours. Let the rela-
tions Of climate TO architecture be thorough
ly studied and faithfully applied, and then
our style of building win bc truly American,
and beautiful from its harmony with ma
ture.-0hiO Farmer.