ly plugged to
the walls, the joints being pinned with hardwood pins. Half timber work
(fig. 34) well designed has a very pleasing, homely and rural effect.
The best and most durable wood to use is English oak worked smooth on
the external face and usually painted; the by-laws of various
authorities differ considerably as to the method of construction and in
the restrictions as to its use. Some very fine early examples are to be
seen in England, as at Holborn Bars, London, in the old parts of
Bristol, and at Moreton Old Hall, near Congleton, Cheshire (see HOUSE,
Plate IV. fig. 13).

[Illustration: FIG. 34.--Half Timber Construction.]

Timber-framed permanent buildings are not used in the towns of England,
not being allowed by the by-laws. In some English villages timber
bungalows are allowed, plastered inside, and either rough cast outside,
or with tiles, or with sheet iron painted. At the garden city of
Letchworth, in Hertfordshire, there are a few timber-framed bungalows
(erected about 1904 and originally intended to be used as week-end
cottages), the outsides of which are covered with sheet iron and
painted. Other instances of the temporary use of this kind of building
are found in soldiers' barracks, offices and chapels.

In America and the British colonies this class of building is very
largely erected on the outskirts of the cities. In American practice in
framing the walls of wooden buildings two distinct methods are used and
are distinguished as "braced" and "balloon."

The Braced (fig. 35) was the only kind in use previous to about the year
1850. In this method of framing the sills, posts, girts and plates are
made of heavy timber morticed and pinned together and braced with 4 in.
X 4 in. or 4 in. X 6 in. braces and common studding. To frame a building
in this way it is necessary to cut all the pieces and make all the
mortice holes on the ground, and then fit them together and raise a
whole side at a time or at least one storey of it. The common studs are
only one storey high.

The Balloon frame (fig. 36) is composed of much smaller scantlings and
is more rapidly erected and less expensive. The method is to first lay
the sill, generally 4 in. X 6 in., halved at the angles. After the floor
is laid, the corner posts, usually 4 in. X 6 in., are erected and
temporarily secured in place with the aid of stays. The common studs are
then set up and spiked to the sill, and a temporary board nailed across
their face