GENERAL METHODS 155 



mer, or to cut off projections with a chisel, after 

 the wall is finished. 



At intervals, as it is built up, the wall will 

 need bracing. The amount of bracing required 

 depends principally upon the width of the wall. 

 If it is ,not more than a foot wide, no bracing will 

 ordinarily be needed. There are two types of 

 braces, those which prevent the wall from bulg- 

 ing out and those which prevent it from caving in. 

 The first function is best performed by wire, the 

 second by pieces of wood. 



There are two good ways of handling the wire. 

 The most obvious plan is to drive some staples 

 Into the back of the cavity and run short lengths 

 of wire from them to the wall. The easiest way 

 is to employ V's of wire having the ends bent down 

 at right angles. One limb of the V-shaped wire 

 is threaded through the staple and the bent ends 

 are driven Into the briquettes. One of these V's is 

 put Into every second or third course. Another 

 way Is to use the same kind of V's, but to anchor 

 them, not to staples, but to a strong wire run from 

 one end of the cavity to the other from bolts or 

 pieces of wood across Its top and bottom. The 

 advantage of this last plan Is that greater elasticity 

 is permitted to the wall without loss of strength. 



The wooden braces also take several forms. 

 For example a board can be laid on the surface 

 of the back filling, fitting In snugly between the 



