214 CHEAP AND DURABLE STRUCTURES. 



" every one who has not been an eyewitness to such things." 

 But it is hoped that a description of this manner of building 

 will sufficiently explain the reason of its superiority. 

 The method, Pise is a very simple operation : it is merely by compressing 

 ronsists^simply ^^^^^ '" moulds or cases, that we may effect the*building of 

 in compressing houses of any size or height. This art, though at present con- 

 or'casrs™''"^^' fined almost to the Lyonese in France, was known and prac- 

 tised at a very early period of antiquity, as appears from a 

 It appears to passage in Pliny's Natural History, M. Goiffin, who publibhed 



be of consider- ^ treatise on Pise in 1772, is of opinion that the art was prac- 

 able antiquity. . . _ ^ 



tised by the Romans, and then i«troduced into France : and 



Abbe Rozier, in his Journal de Physique, says, that he has dis- 

 covered some traces of it in Catalonia ; so that Spain, like 

 France, has a single province in which this ancient manner of 

 Is very econo- building has been pi'eserved. The art, however, well deserves 

 mical. J.Q {jg introduced into more general use : the cheapness of the 



materials, and the great saving of time and labour which it 

 affords, must recommend it in all places and on all occasions. 

 But the French author says that it will be found particularly 

 useful in hilly countries where carriage is difficult and some- 

 times impracticable ; and for farm buildings, which as they 

 must be made of considei-able extent, are usually very Expen- 

 sive. 



Of the Impkrnents necessary for building in Pise. 



Account of the Besides the common tools, such as spades, trowels, baskets, 

 tools requisittf watering-pots, plumb-rule, hatchet and hammer, the only 

 tjce ; implements required for building in pise are a mould and a 



rammer, of which it will be necessary to give a particular de- 

 scription. 



The following is a list of their several parts, as they are de- 

 lineated in Plate V. 



—they are a, Fig. 1. One side of the mould seen on the outside, 



ftjould and a 2. The other side seen within. 



3. Head of the mould seen without. 



4. The other face seen within. ' 



5. Wedges. 



6. A round stick, called the wall-gauge. 



7. Posts set upright, seen flat-wise with its tenons. 



8. The same on the edge. 



FJgk 



rammer. 



