492 
Farming of Devonshire. 
a landlord would be affected by new and commodious erections. 
The material comm(mly used for the walls of cottages is pro- 
vincially called "cob-earth;" it is made by mixing 3 bundles 
of straw with 2 cart-loads of sharp or gravelly soil (red sandstone 
is very good for this purpose) ; the whole is well wetted and after- 
wards trodden by men or horses. A foundation of stone having 
been raised '2 feet above the ground, this mixture is laid on it to 
the depth of 18 inches or 2 feet, and remains until it has become 
firm. The length of time necessary for it to harden is regulated 
by the weather, and also by the soil used ; if it should be a free 
soil and the weather fine, it requires seven or eight days ; but 
if heavier, closer in its texture, and containing clay, the time 
will be proportionately increased. A second layer is then placed 
on the former to an equal depth, and thus (always observing the 
precaution of having the previous bed of earth hard before any 
more is laid upon it) the walls are raised to the required height. 
They now present the fippcarance of a stack of straw rather than 
a part of a human habitation. The roof and other woodwork 
having been completed, the walls are trimmed by cutting them 
smoothly with a common hayknife ; a coat of plaster is now 
applied to both sides of the wall, and the inside receives a 
second coat. Before this becomes dry it is " rough cast," by 
portions of fine gravel being thrown violently against it by which 
much adheres to the surface. A coat of whitewash generally 
finishes this part of the building. This material (" cob-earth ") is 
used alike for the dwelling of the peasant and the residence of 
the more opulent classes, and is equally adapted for the cottage 
or the mansion. By strangers to the county, as well as by many 
who, although residing in it are unacquainted with the value of 
these walls, they are contemptuously designated viud walls. But 
by whatever name they may be distinguished their intrinsic 
worth remains unaltered ; for the most durable, healthy, econo- 
mical, and comfortable wall for a building is that made with 
good cob-earth. It appears to form a strong concrete, which will 
equally resist the action of the atmosphere and climate with 
our best building stone. In building a large house, it should 
be commenced in May, so as to have the heat of the summer 
months for hardening the walls. Tiie advantage of increasing 
the height gradually is to prevent bulging, which would neces- 
sarily result if the weight were laid on the top whilst the pre- 
vious layer was yet moist. For a low building the wall may 
be IS inches thick (when trimmed), but for a cottage or house 
it should be 2 feet; the walls of old erections are often as much 
as 3 feet in thickness. The materials and labour for a cottage 
wall cost 3s. per perch (16^ square feet). 
The liii.e-ash floor is also peculiar to this county ; it is formed 
from a composition of lime and sand, mixed in varying propor- 
