Fig. 45. A footing course under the cellar wall.
Fig. 46. Showing a layer of material to stop vermin.
To prevent rats from entering the cellar under the walls, either one of two methods may be adopted. A footing-course projecting beyond the outside of the wall arrests the rodents, for having dug down to it they have not sufficient intelligence to dig around the footing-course ([Fig. 45]). Or the desired result may be accomplished by placing a thin layer of refuse broken glass against the outside of the wall two to three feet from the surface of the ground ([Fig. 46]). Cellars would be much improved if they had higher ceilings. At least 7 feet should be allowed between the cellar floor and the under side of the overhead joists. All cellars should have concrete floors and plastered ceilings, for both warmth and cleanliness. In an extremely rigorous climate, the upper angle of the wall should be lathed and plastered as shown in [Fig. 47].
Fig. 47. Protecting the cellar from frost by plastering across the upper corners.
If the front cellar wall and the greater part of the side walls extend 2 to 3 feet above the earth, a good sized window (which may be single- or double-glazed) can be secured. The rear walls should extend not more than one foot above ground. If the earth slopes rearward, then grade up to the wall until not more than two steps will be necessary to reach the kitchen floor; it is easier to climb a gentle ascent than steps. The front steps are used but a comparatively few times, while the rear ones are used many times, so it matters little if the front of the house is several steps above grade.
It makes a visitor unhappy to know that the busy housewife must descend three steps, walk forty feet and ascend two steps to reach the well platform, then reverse the journey, to secure the drink of cold water desired ([Fig. 48]). The illustration in [Fig. 49] shows how the farmer solved the difficulty by building an elevated plank walk from the kitchen to the well. [Fig. 50] shows how he might have solved it in another way.