Brick-making. 163 



breadth, 4^ inches, and thickness, 2 inches ; each 

 brick with its \ inch layer of mortar will then 

 occupy a space of 9 x 4^ x 2\ inches. Thicker 

 bricks would be better, only that it is a difficult 

 matter to get them equally well burned ; as a 

 smaller number would then be required, and they 

 would be less easily broken. The earth best suited 

 for the manufacture of bricks should contain a mix- 

 ture of about five parts of pure clay to one part of 

 sand ; a composition of soil often found in a natural 

 state. Almost any kind of earth, however, may be 

 used, provided it is free from pebbles, and not too 

 sandy. 



The piece of ground, the soil of which is intended 

 to be converted into bricks, having in the first 

 place been cleared, should be broken up to the 

 depth of a foot If this is done a few months 

 before the bricks are required so much the better. 

 Water may now be turned in over-night and allowed 

 to saturate the whole till morning, when the mud 

 thus formed should be thoroughly worked up, 

 kneaded, and finally trodden through for a couple 

 of hours at least. More water may then be let in, 

 the mixture being left till next day, when the 

 tramping process may be repeated ; if time is pre- 

 cious, however, as is sometimes the case, this may 

 be done at once, until the mass is thoroughly homo- 

 geneous, and of equal consistency throughout. 

 M 2 



