The Universal British Builder. 109

quality in unseasonable weather, for my own part,I would prefer a good season for natural drying untoany thing confined by artificial means; and wouldconsider one bag of plaister in May to ten in Janua-ry or February, for either cornices or boding ofornaments. The way and time to mix plaifier withstuff, is to do it at the time you lay it on ; in whichcafe it will have all its strength. Plaisterers them-selves know well enough the use and mode of mixingtheir stuff; but as I propose my book as an universalbenefit, I beg to mention two or three things rela-tive to the quality and quantity of materials, thatmay be serviceable to many workmen, that do plail-terers work in the country ; which is even beneaththe notice of an established plaisterer.

The mode of appropriating stuff for the first coatof ceilings, is, to take one quantity of lime to threeof sand. Note, the best sand for ceilings, walls,&c. is red pit-sand ; which is of a rough conjunc-tive quality, and the least subject to crack of any.For stucco, or what is called finishing, mix one oflime, and another of sand : the best for stucco is ri-ver-fand; being much sharper, and sets, as is re-quired, much harder ; for in all work of this kindit is expected to appear as smooth and firm as stone.

For cornices, the certain quantity should be onegauge of plaister, and four of lime ; and sand, threeto one of the whole ; the lime, sand, and hairfirst made ; the plaister to be applied just before itis laid on ; the same for boilings of ceilings, &c.

Plaistering is a most useful invention, and hasgreatly the preference of wood, for cornices, &c.on account of its unity with walls and ceilings ; butwe fee it often lose its effect, when mixed withwood, as in base mouldings, &c.

1 he intent of appropriating cast-

mouldings ofplaister,