496 The. Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal. [Feb., PRACTICAL CARPENTRY. CENTERING. IN the preceding number of our Review we gave the most useful of the problems on the figures most generally used in arching openings ; and now we place before our readers the most useful, because the most used, of Centerings or framing for the correct construction of such archings. Fig. 1. Is the most simple of centres, and is intended for a segment-arch to cover an opening from eight to ten feet wide. It is made of one-inch stuff. Each rib is of a single board, and strength- ened by three pieces securely nailed on the side, one being six inches wide ; and each of the side-pieces four inches. Fig. 2. This represents a simple cen- tering for an arch from ten to twelve feet span. It is constructed of one- inch stuff in two segments butting against each other at top, and braced by a piece of two-inch plank, shouldered to a tie below and to the meeting segments above. The heels of the two segment- pieces as well as the heads, will be cut in, in like manner, and the whole firmly nailed. ■ — Fig. 3. This centering is to cover a span of from twelve to fourteen feet. The construction is like the preceding one, but of two-inch stuff. The centre support is three inches thick by eight inches wide, cut into the tie, two inches, and the segments into it at their point of meeting, two inches ; all securely nailed. The tie in this case is to be six inches wide by two inches thick. Fig. 4. The centering represented in this figure is to accommodate a span of fourteen to sixteen feet. The chief dis- tinction between it and the preceding one is, that there are struts at either side of the centre or king-piece ; which struts abut against the latter and are thoroughly shouldered to the segments. These struts are three inches by four, whilst the centre is three by eight inches. The segments to be two inches thick, and the tie to be three inches by six. Fig. 5. Here we have a span of six- teen to eighteen feet. The tie is three inches by eight. The centre-piece ten by three. The struts are three by six. The* segments are four in number, and are shouldered into the struts. There are in addition, two side-studs shouldered into the tie, and having the segments likewise shouldered into them. These studs are three by six inches, as are the struts. The segments are three inches thick. The whole to be stoutly nailed together. Fig. 6. We have in this a centering for an eighteen feet span heavy arch of masonry. The tie to be eight inches deep ; the principals eight inches ; and the four segments eight inches at their narrowest parts ; the struts six inches ; firring struts, to keep the segments in their places and be halved on them, each six inches ; the king-post to be ten inches at the head and foot, and six inches between. The whole to be se- cured and to have iron straps at the feet of the principals, to pass around and secure them to the tie-beams. The foot of the king-post is to be pinned to the tie-beam. The wall-plates are to be four by ten each. It is to be understood that we new only treat of the simplest forms of Cen- tering. Our intention is to review the subject in its more intricate detail, and give our better-informed readers a few problems well worthy of their study. COTTAGE VILLA. THE elevation, herewith given, shows a Design for a Cottage Villa, in the Gothic style of architecture, such as, we think, would form a comfortable little habitation for a gentleman of lim- ited income. As a very natural and laudable result, the possession of a cul- tivated taste has enlarged our love for the picturesque, and a desire for the em- bellishment of our homes ; the latter, a
