Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-01-19

PRESERVATION OF FARM BUILDINGS.

find in the Neu England Farmer, on sub
ject of much interest to farmers. 1t con-
tains a number of excellent hints and sug-
gestions, which we are sure that many rea-
ders of the Reporter will appreciate.
There is nothing that sooner exposes
what we Yankees call "shiftliness," than
dilapidated buildings and fences, and moth
ing is more unpleasant to the eye of the
thrifty farmer
Any man of ordinary observation will,
while travelling through the country, point
out almost unerringly, every thrifty far
mer, by one glance at his house and build
ings and fences OF course, it is not nee
essary that these should be either large or
stylish. On the contrary we as often see
this kind Of buildings going to decay, per-
haps more frequently, the owner having
spent all his means, both money and credit
in trying to outdo his neighbors in style
and having nothing left either to carry on
his farm, or keep his buildings in repair.
One thing is quite convenient to the far
mer to begin with, and that is to have tools
sufficient. and be enough of mechanic to
use them, to replace a loose clapboard or
board that has by some means left its prop
er place, and to put a few shingles on the
roof when they have been blown off by the
wind or leak occurs from any other cause;
and make other little repairs which are
constantly needed, and which require but
little time if done in season, but which if
he is obliged to go two or three miles for a
carpe lter, and perhaps go several times be-
fore he can get him, are apt to be neglec-
ted, and give the premises a bad appear
ance, and perhaps considerable damage is
done which cannot be wholly repaired. The
most important thing for the protection of
all buildings is good roof On this sub
iect there has been much discussion and
not little experiment.
have never yet seen anything except
slate or shingles that was worth half the
cost of trial Of these two, my prefer
ence is for the latter for farm buildings,
when not exposed to fire from others, as be-
ing the most economical if properly put on.
/ have noticed recently that the opinion has
been gaining ground, that it is better to
use medium quality of shingles, for the
reason, as many say, that almost any shin
giles will last as long as they can be kept
on the roof with any nails that can be
bought. This is partly true, and | think
partly a mistake. Most of the ordinary
shngle nails sold at the stores in the coun-
try will not last more than from 10 to Is
years, and almost any shingles will last
that length of time, but nails made of
Swedes iron are said by men of experience
to last more than twice as long, and the
difference in cost in laying a thousand shin
giles is from 10 to Is cents.
But if were shingling building which
| expected to use as long as | lived, would
get the best shaved pine or cedar shingles
that were to be obtained and put them on
with zinc nails these, ! think, would last
as long as should, unless | outlived my
usefulness. | Ihave no doubt that painting
a roof is some protection perhaps as much
as to any other part of the building.
AS near as | can ascertain, the shingles
had been ON my house when | bought the
place, abort GO years, and had been pain
ted about As years, and the roof had not
leaked badly until recently. | once helped
to shingle two houses that had been shin
gled Al years, and heather Of them had
ever been known to leak, but had become
so covered with moss that one of them took
fire from sparks from the chimney, and they
were taken off for that reason.
| suppose that all admit that for the pres
ervation of the walls of building, moth
ing is superior, and nothing hardly equal,
to good linseed oil and white lead, and for
the man who has the money there is no
better investment than to keep his build
ings well covered them Almost every
man will have his house painted with them,
but many think they cannot afford to paint
their barns and sheds with them. And for
these there are many different preparations
which tend to preserve the wood and beau
tify the buildings. OF these perhaps white
wash is the cheapest and most convenient
it preserves the wood very much and i'm
proves the appearance except in rainy wca-
ther, when it has rather dingy look
There are also many preparations made and
called mineral paint, which comes quite
low when mixed with some cheap oil, but
when used with linseed oil costs nearly as
much as white lead, as they are put up dry,
and require much more oil, and are not
as good when done.
Many think that it makes but little diff.
erence what is used for coloring matter,
only in the appearance to the eye, the oil
being the only really useful ingredient; but
this is a mistake, the lead and oil combined
form coating on the wood nearly as hard
as iron. The others have but little body.
merely staining the wood With these,
most of the benefit is derived from the oil
When building which is rough clapboar-
ded, or one on which the clapboards are
considerably worn, if to be painted two
coats with lead and oil, good composition
which is much cheaper and | think equally
as good for the first coat, can be made by
using whiting and oil, with little lead
There is 40 building on the farm that is
apt to decay as rapidly as the barn, for va
rious reasons. When there is a cellar
which is damp and large portion of the
year filled with manure, the moisture of
course, causes the timber to rot very fast
This may in great measure be prevented
by proper ventilation. If convenient, the
simplest and most efficacious way is to
have windows or opposite sides that can
be opened and create draft through when
the weather is not too cold
4 barn with the boarding quite open,
which many people are advocating at pres
ent, as the best to keep hay in, will soon
have decayed sills. caused by the rain and
snow driving through, and running down
between them and the boards, and for this
reason | go in for a tight barn. with proper
ventilation. And by ventilation l do not
mean little hole in the roof of the barn,