100 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



stretcher below, and vice versa; thus the cen- 

 tral joint is covered half a brick over in every 

 course by the header from the opposite sides 

 alternately, and lateral or transverse bond is 

 well secured. In like manner, in the eighteen 

 inch, or two brick walls, in Fig. 59, the under 

 Fig. 59. 



f r I ~ i i. 



course, A, is composed of two series of headers 

 abutting against each other, and the next 

 course, B, of one row of stretchers on the out- 

 side, another on the inside, and a row of 

 headers filling up the centre. By the exten- 

 sion of the same principle, walls of any thick- 

 ness are formed. 



On considering the proportion of the width 

 of a brick to its length, it is obviously impossi- 

 ble, on commencing from the vertical end of a 

 wall, to obtain bond with whole sized bricks, 

 because the alternate joints of the headers will 

 coincide with the joints of the stretchers. To 

 avoid this, it is necessary to insert a bat, made 

 by halving a brick longitudinally, next to the 

 outermost header of each course, as shewn in 

 Fig. 58 and 59. These bats are called half- 

 headers or closers, and their insertion in the 

 manner described prevents the concurrence of 

 the joints, and preserves the bond. 



The system of bonding just described is 

 termed English bond, and should ever be pre- 

 ferred where compactness and strength are 

 wished. Some, however, prefer another dispo- 

 sition of the bricks, which is termed Flemish 

 bond, and which was introduced into this 

 country in the reign of William and Mary. 

 The English bond, it has been seen, shows out- 

 wardly on both sides alternate rows of headers 

 and stretchers, while the Flemish bond out- 

 wardly exhibits alternate headers and stretch- 

 ers in the same course, and it is for this more 

 sightly appearance, as some say that it is pre- 

 ferred. Figs. 60 and 61 shew walls in Flemish 

 Fig. 60. 



Fig. 61. 



I I 



bond of the same size as those illustrating 

 English bond. The headers and stretchers 

 will be readily distinguished ; and it will be 

 seen, that besides the necessity for the cut 

 brick closer, as in English bond in the heading 

 courses, and this frequent occurrence of broken 

 bricks weakens the tie or bond ; hence, English 

 bond should be preferred where strength is re- 

 quired. 



There are other methods of bonding brick 

 work, such as diagonal bonding and herring- 

 bone bonding, which need not more than be ad- 

 verted to, as they do not possess such advanta- 

 ges over English bond for the work required in 

 agricultural buildings, as entitle them to a 

 preference. 



There exists in bricklaying great necessity 

 for a strict supervision of the workmen, to see 

 that they preserve the bond, a thing of which 

 they are in general regardless, although the 

 goodness of their work is so greatly dependent 

 upon it. 



The next important point is the plumb of the 

 wall, and the preserving the joints of the 

 courses perfectly horizontal in every direc- 

 tion. In practice, after the footings or lowest 

 spreading courses are laid, the bricklayer, to 

 avoid the necessity of constantly using the 

 level and rule, builds up pillars of three or four 

 courses at the external angles, which he care- 

 fully plumbs and levels. From pillar to pillar 

 he then stretches a line to form a gauge for the 

 work between them, taking care of course, by 

 props, to prevent the line from drooping or 

 sagging between the points of support when 

 the stretch is great. On bringing up the inter- 

 vening courses to the level, he proves them by 

 the application of the rule and level. 



In laying bricks, the workman, having 

 spread a sufficient quantity of mortar to bed 

 the brick, strikes off with his trowel as much 

 of it as projects beyond the face of his work, 

 and spreads this over the end or side of the 

 brick last laid. He then places the next brick, 

 and presses it down in its bed until it ranges 

 with the work, facilitating the settling of it, 

 if required, by a tap, either with the edge 

 or handle of his trowel. A small quantity of 

 the mortar is, by this operation, pressed out 

 from the bed and joint, and this he either 

 strikes off, and dresses the joints clean with 

 the point of his trowel, or, if the worlf is to be 

 plastered, he leaves it rough, to form a better 

 attachment for the plaster. 



In order' to form a free base for the wall, the 



