Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-01-18
VOL. II.

impcnitraple surface. A plaster may
be formed of an equal portion of pure
clay, sand, ashes, and lime. thoroughly
incorporated together, and mixed with
a portion Of fresh bullock's blood equal
to one half of each of the above ingrc-
dcnts. The blood should be well
stirred, to prevent it from coagulating.
To those who have already built, and
are apprehcnsivc that the plastering
exposed to the action Of the changes
Of the weather, will not prove durable,
we advise them to make composition
Of the following materials, and apply
it while hot, Oh the outer surface with
a common painters brush:
To five gallons Of water, add five
quarts of Liverpool or rock salt; boil
and skim; then take six quarts OF I'M
slaked lime, Stake and slit it, put it in
to the hot brine; also, one pound Of al
UNI. half pound Of copperas, three
quarters Of a pound Of pearlash-the
last TO be added gradually; then add
four quarts of fine pure sand; mix the
whole together, and apply two coats as
above. Any coloring matter may be
added to give the shade desired. II
this process be properly performed, it
will give the wall the appearance of
slate. and be remarkably durable.
The mode of making brick is very
simplc. The first step is TO make a
clay pit in an oval shape, and fill it
with pure clay. Blue is the best f
brocurablc. As soon rs this is done,
water should be copiously applied; and
after the clay has been saturated with
water twenty-four hours, yoke of OK,
en- may tread or temper it; and, during
this operation, short straw must be ap-
piled at the rate Of four common bun
dies to hundred bricks. The bricks
are monldcd quite convenient to the
pit, by simply placing the mould on the
ground, which should have an even
surface, and hllingit with the temper
cd mortar with a common threc-prong-
ed fork. By drawing a straightedgc
board across the upper surface OF the
mould, and raising the mould, the brick
is formed; which must remain on the
spot until it becomes sufficiently dry TO
turn on its edge. When they arc dry
enough to move without spelling the
shape, they may be stacked up TO sea-
son, and should be secured from the wet
by boards.
in constructing this style of houses,
the two following particulars must be
invariably observed, viz: The erection
of a substantial stone wall at least two
feet above the level of the ground, and
a hip or cottage roof projecting over
each side Of the wall not less than thir
ty inches. Another important feature
is, to have quantity of bond timber.
intcrspcrccd through tho wall, consist
ing of "a or 2 inch plank. To give
our readers some idea Of the cost OF
such walls, when they arc given out by
contract, we will illustrate the subject
by laying before them the following
facts.
Mr.. William Bosom, Of the village
of Yorkville, one mile north of this city,
has built very great number Of these
buildings, and has invariably taken
them at e per hundred brick, include
ing making and laying the bricks, be-
ing six inches thick, twelve inches wide
and eighteen inches long. He built
the last summer, number of houses of
various sizes, one Of which was for
farmer Ply the name of Robert Mash
arfy, OF the township Of York, the d.
mansions being twenty.eight feet wide
by thirty-eight feet long, and fourteen
feet high, exclusive Of two fec. Of stone
wall for the foundation. The number
Of bricks in the wall .(windows except
ed) was two thousand two hundred and
forty-eight, which, at Ell (S4,S4) would
equal e22 los. (less than SlI0.) There
were eleven toise "a fathom or six feet
of stone required for the foundation,
which cost six shillings (Sl,3S) per toisc
for laying into wall. About one half
of the quantity of mortar is used for
plastcring on mud brick that is redui-
red on lathing; and plasterers will do
the work for so per cent less than they
will on the latter. The chimncys and
inside walls are very frequently made
Of the same material, but the bricks
are much smaller. Any size may be
used; but the most convenient and ex-
pcditious size for building is six inches I