GOOD AND BAD STONEWORK 



XHE stonework in a great many of the existing 

 fireplaces which have been observed by the 

 author is not well done. The type of stonework 

 which seems appropriate and inappropriate 

 for camp stoves and fireplaces is illustrated on 

 the accompanying plates (XXIV and XXV). 

 The mistakes which are frequently made in 

 the texture of stonework in fireplaces are the 

 following: 



A. Using a type of stone which is not adapted for this 

 kind of a unit, as shown in plate XXIV, figure 6, and 

 in plate XXV, figure 6. 



B. Laying the stonework on an unnatural bed which 

 does not create a pleasing composition in the camp 

 stove or fireplace design (pi. XXIV, fig. 2; pi. XXV, 

 fig. 6). 



C. Using a type of texture which is too formal for such a 

 feature in naturalistic surroundings (pi. XXV, fig. 4). 



D. Using cobblestones which are not carefully laid and 

 produce a loose and unstable effect (pi. XXIV, fig. 4). 



It is very essential that the stonework be con- 

 structed in a permanent way and that the 

 texture of the stonework be appropriate to the 

 naturalistic surroundings. 



So far as is practical, the horizontal effect 

 which is excellently illustrated in plate XXV, 

 figures 3 and 5, and plate XXIV, figure 3, 

 should be procured if possible. 



No camp stove or fireplace should be con- 

 structed to present the formal effect of stone 

 texture which is illustrated in plate XXV, 

 figure 4. The use of broken stone with sharp 

 angles and laid in such a manner that the 



surface texture is very uneven and the mortar 

 joints deep, as shown in plate XXV, figure 6, 

 should also be very definitely avoided. This 

 same type of stone, if carefully selected and 

 well laid, can produce an appropriate and 

 desirable effect. When laid as shown in plate 

 XXV, figure 6, it gives the effect of an unin- 

 teresting pile of stones with no character in 

 texture. 



The stone which is laid on an unnatural bed, 

 as shown in plate XXIV, figure 2, and pro- 

 ducing the vertical effect, increases the appar- 

 ent height of the camp stove; while the stone 

 laid on a natural bed and producing a hori- 

 zontal effect, as shown in plate XXIV, figure 3, 

 decreases the apparent height of the camp stove. 



The camp stove which is constructed of over- 

 sized units of stone with rough surface, as 

 shown in plate XXIV, figure 6, is to be dis- 

 couraged. 



In general, it is not a logical procedure to 

 use in every instance the stone which is avail- 

 able in any specific locality without making 

 an effort to find stone which is better adapted 

 for camp stove construction. 



The above discussion relates primarily to 

 stoves and fireplaces that expose a surface of 

 stonework sufficient to be designated as a 

 "wall." In the case of the primitive and 

 naturalistic fireplaces, both the size of the 

 stones and the method of laying may be varied 

 as shown in the various drawings. 



83 



