THE COTTAGE PROBLEM.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]
am not writing because I have any theories to pro- pound on cottage-building, but to give an idea, if it should interest you, of the style of cottage the peasant in Correze (France) finds amply suits his needs, and usually builds for a sum not exceeding £100. The ground floor consists of a large kitchen with 12ft. wide fireplace opening and (gout on the narrow end, two half-casement windows and door in side walls; lath-and-plaster partitions to two bedrooms (these each have casement windows, no fireplace). Over this, one large room having windows on each side and stove pipe in chimney ; this room is usually made a store place in winter for fruit and vegetables ; ceilings are generally an exception. All outside walls are built of local stone, are 2ft. thick up to the first storey ; these are then reduced to a thickness of less than ift. to the eaves. Roof boarded and "slated " with hand-cut stone. Under kitchen a cellar 8ft. deep, with air inlets; entrance from outside by sloping ground. There is seldom more accommo- dation than this, and it is sufficient. Here, where there are no people out of employment and little skilled labour to be found, all workmanship is naturally of a rather rough description. Woodwork in few instances is joined and pinned, as we know it in England, but merely nailed together with stout French nails, with the exception of roof timbers, which are invariably
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