g<2 COMMODIOUS HOUSES WITH EARTHEN WALLS* 



Method of In beginning the wall, some of them are necessary at the 



en wills tarth * bottom > the more n>nnl y to support the frame Ml the brick 

 or stone work. They are then worked into the wall, and, 

 after the frame is taken down, driven out. After the lirst 

 course, they are only necessary to the top irons, and may be 

 taken out as soon as the earth is rammed up near them, so 

 that no holes are left in the upper courses of the wall, more 

 than the bolt holes. 



When these frames are used, one side is placed in such a 

 direction, that the front or end may be required to be taken 

 away, and then by means of the angular iron brace K, the 

 other return is sure to stand at right angles with the first. 

 Care should then be taken, in the first course, to set the 

 sides level, that being done, the other upper courses, from 

 the nature of the frames, and manner of using them, must 

 of course come upright and level without any particular 

 care, and a wall properly begun cannot well get wrong. 

 After the first course of a building is done, the moulds 

 should be moved to another, and so on till all the courses 

 are up, and as the top holes of each preceding course become 

 the bottom holes in the succeeding ones, no difficulty will 

 be found in fixing the mould after the first course is properly 

 done. 



Fig. 6 shows the iron pin and staples that keep the inter- 

 nal angle of the frame together. K, fig. 4, is an iron stay 

 to set the returns at right angles. This is only wanted 

 where other means of setting the building square is not to 

 be obtained. 



• Having described the frame, and means of applying it 

 generally, it may be necessary to observe the following par- 

 ticulars in the process. Having carried, one course round 

 the building, it frequently happens that ihe top thereof be- 

 comes too dry to attach to the next succeeding course; and 

 therefore it is advisable, that, as soon as the frame is set for 

 the succeeding course, a small quantity of thick grout, 

 composed of 4- lime, and £ earth, be poured on the top of 

 each course, immediately before the first layer of earth is 

 put in. A very small quantity is sufficient, and will add 

 much to the strength of the work, by cementing the cours s 

 well together at the joints. The workman should also, with 



the 



