162 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



kiln sheds. The yard usually drains toward one end, or from 

 the center toward both. After a day's production has been 

 spread out the bo}^ who tended the machine in the morning goes 

 along the rows and stamps them with a piece of board set on the 

 end of a long handle. This is termed " spatting." After this the 

 bricks are turned on edge by another boy who goes along the 



General view of brickyard, kiln sheds and drying rack. 



rows with a special tool, turning six bricks at a time. The next 

 morning, if the weather has been pleasant, the bricks are 

 "hacked," that is to say they are piled on each other in a double 

 row 11 to 15 courses high along the sides of the yard and left till 

 sufficiently dry to put in the kiln and burn. In case of rain the 

 hacks are covered with planking. 



The disadvantage of open yards is that the bricks are exposed 

 to the rain, and if a shower comes while they are spread out on 

 the yard, they become " washed," getting a rough, uneven 

 surface. Washed brick are quite as strong as unwashed ones, 

 but they bring 50 to 75 cents less a thousand. The washed 

 brick amount to about 15 per cent, of the total production. * 



Covered ya/rds. — These differ from the former simply in the 

 addition of a roof. This roof is in hinged sections, which on 

 pleasant days can be opened upwards, allowing the sunlight to 

 enter, and closed to prevent washing of the brick in case of rain. 

 "Washed bricks are of course avoided by this method of drying, 



* Quite recently washed brick have been employed for the fronts of buildings. They givea 

 unique effect. 



