Chap. III.

MASONRY. 581
convex on tlic outside from tlie greater number of joints, and, consequently, from the
<;reater quantity of mortar placed in each joint, as the shrinking of the mortar will be in
proportion to the quantity ; and therefore such a wall is inferior to one wherein the ficing
and backing are of the same kind, and built with equal care, even supposing both sides to
be of uncoursed rublde, than which there is no worse description of walling. Where a wall
consists of an ashlar facing outside, and the inside is coursed rubble, the courses at tho
back should be as liigh as possible, and the beds should contain very little mortar. In
Scotland, where there is abundance of stone, and where the ashlar faces are exceedingly
well executed, they generally back with uncoursed rubble ;
in the north of England, wiiere
they are not quite so particular with their ashlar facings, they are much more particular in
coursing the backings. Coursed rubble and !)rick l>iickings admit of an easy introduction
of bond tmiber. In good masonry, however, wooden bonds should not be continued in
length ;
and they often weaken the masonry when used in great quantity, making the \m\\\
liable to bend where they are inserted. Indeed, it is better to introduce only such small
pieces, and with the fibres of the wood perpendicular to the face of the wall, as are required
for the fastenings of battens and dressings.
1919. In ashlar facing, the stones usually rise from 28 to ,'50 inches in length, 12 inciics
in height, and 8 or 9 inches in thickness. Although the upper and lower beds of an ashlar,
as well as the vertical joints, should be at right angles to the face of the stone, and the
ftice and vertical joints at right angles to the beds in an ashlar facing
;
yet, when tlio
Btones run nearly of the same thickness, it is of some advantage, in respect of bond, that
the back of the stone be inclined to the face, and that all the backs thus inclined should
run in the same direction ; because a small degree of lap is thus obtained in the setting of
the next course, whereas, if the backs are parallel to the front, no lap can take place when
the stones run of an equal depth in the thickness of the wall. It is, moreover, advan-
tageous to select the stones so that a thicker one and a thinner one may follow each other
alternately. The disposition of the stones in the next superior course should follow the
same order as in the inferior course, and every vertical joint should fall as nearly as possible
in the middle of the stone below.
1920. In every course of ashlar facing in which the backing is brick or rubble, homi, or,
as they are called in the country, through stones should be introduced, their number being
proportioned to the length of the course ; every one of which stones, if a superior course,
should fall in the middle between every two like stones in the course below. And this
disposition should be strictly attended to in all long courses. Some masons, in carrying
u]) their work, to show that they have introduced a sufficient number of bond stones into
their work, choose their bond stones of greater length than the thickness of the wall, and
knock or cut off their ends afterwards. But this is a bad practice, as the wall is liable to
be shaken by the force used in reducing, by chiselling or otherwise cutting away the pro-
jecting part, and sometimes with the chance even of splitting the bond stone itself.
1921. In piers, where the jambs are coursed with ashlar in front, every alternate jamli
stone should go through the wall, with its bed perfectly level. If the jamb stones are oi'
one entire height, as is often the case when architraves are wrought upon them, and also
upon the lintel crowning them, of the stones at the ends of the courses of the pier which
are to adjoin the architrave jamb, every alternate stone should be a bond stone ;
and if the
piers be very narrow between the apertures, no other bond stones will be necessary in such
short courses. When the piers are wide, the number of bond stones is to be proportioned
to the space. Bond stones, too, must be particularly attended to in long courses above and
below windows. They should have their sides parallel, and of course perpendicidar to
each other, and their horizontal dimension in the face of the work should never be less
than the vertical one. The vertical joints, after receding about three quarters of an inch
from the face of the work with a close joint, should widen gradually to the back, so as to
form hollow wedge-like figures for the reception of mortar and pack'mg. The adjoining
stones should have their beds and vertical joints filled with oil-putty, from the face to about
three-quarters of an inch inwards, and the remaining part of the beds with well-prepared
mortar. Putty cement is very durable, and will remain prominent when many stones are
in a state of dilapidation, through the action of the atmosphere upon them. The use of
the oil-putty is at first disagreeable, from the oil spreading over the surface of the con-
tiguous stones
;
but after a lime this unpleasant look disappears, and the work seems as
though of one piece.
1922. All the stones of an ashlar facing ought to be laid on their natural beds. From
Inattention to this circumstance, the stones often flush at the joints; and, indeed, such
a position of the lamina much sooner admits the destructive action of the air to take
place. I\Ietliods of building in cement and concrete blocks, are noticed in the previous
section.
1 922a. Rubble-WORK, A wall consisting of unhe-wn stone is called a rubble wall, whether or
not mortar is used. This species of work is of two kinds, coursed and uncoursed. In the for-
mer, the stones are gauged and dressed by the hammer, and thrown into different heaps, each