Among a lot of rough planks, it is likely that stuff may be found sufficient for the posts and other scantling. As to the six pilasters, which are added for appearance merely, it is possible that stuff might be found which would, when sawn to width, do for them; in the illustration they are supposed to be fir poles or elm saplings; four sticks only are needed to supply the six halves and four quarters used.
Fig. 139.—Common Method of Using Slabs.
At the corners are four main posts, 4 in. square (see a, [Fig. 140]). These enclose a space of 7 ft. by 5 ft. (outside measurement). They are let into the ground 2 ft., and rise 5 ft. 3 in. above the ground line.
On their tops, and coming flush with their outer edges, rest the wall-plates, which are 3 in. deep; these are needed at the back and sides only, and not at the front. On the same three sides will also be cross-rails, 2 in. to 3 in. thick, the ends of which will be let flush into the posts about a foot from the ground. To the wall-plates and these rails the slabs are nailed. In the side elevation, [Fig. 138], the nails driven into the cross-rails appear, but not those driven into the wallplate, a piece of rough stuff being there shown as fixed over the latter to support the eaves of the thatch.
Fig. 140.—Ground Plan of Rustic Tool House.
To the front are to be seen the two door-posts, b, b, [Fig. 140], which are 2 ft. 8 in. apart, and should be about 3 in. square. As their tops are nailed to the front pair of rafters, they rise to a height of 6 ft. 6 in. The space between door-post and corner-post is filled up by a single slab nailed to the two—5 ft. 6 in. long by 10 in. broad. Above these, instead of a wall-plate, comes the piece of strong slab, shown in [Fig. 137] as having an opening cut in it for the head of the door. This is nailed against the door-posts, rafters, etc.