operly compounded, it should be put up in
small parcels against walls, or otherwise, to mellow, as the workmen
term it; reduced again to a soft putty, or paste, and spread thin on the
walls without any undercoat, and well trowelled. A succeeding coat
should be laid on, before the first is quite dry, which will prevent
joints of brick-work appearing through it. Much depends upon the workmen
giving it sufficient labour, and trowelling it down. If this stucco,
when dry, is laid over with boiling linseed oil, it will last a long
time, and not be liable, when once hardened, to the accidents to which
common stucco is liable. Liardet's, or, as it is commonly called, _Adams
oil-cement_, or stucco, is prepared in the following manner: for the
first coat, take twenty-one pounds of fine whiting, or oyster-shells, or
any other sea-shells calcined, or plaster of Paris, or any calcareous
material calcined and pounded, or any absorbent material whatever,
proper for the purpose; add white or red lead at pleasure, deducting
from the other absorbent materials in proportion to the white or red
lead added; to which put four quarts, beer measure, of oil; and mix them
together with a grinding-mill, or any levigating machine: and afterwards
mix and beat up the same well with twenty-eight quarts, beer measure, of
any sand or gravel, or of both, mixed and sifted, or of marble or stone
pounded, or of brick-dust, or of any kind of metallic or mineral
powders, or of any solid material whatever, fit for the purpose. For the
second coat, take sixteen pounds and a half of super-fine whiting, or
oyster-shells, or any sea-shells calcined, &c. as for the first coat;
add sixteen pounds and a half of white or red lead, to which put six
quarts and a half of oil, wine measure, and mix them together as before:
afterwards mix and beat up the same well with thirty quarts, wine
measure, of fine sand or gravel sifted, or stone or marble pounded, or
pyrites, or any kind of metallic or mineral powder, &c. This composition
requires a greater proportion of sand, gravel, or other solids,
according to the nature of the work, or the uses to which it is to be
applied. If it be required to have the composition coloured, add to the
above ingredients such a proportion of painter's colours, as will be
necessary to give the tint or colour required. In making the
composition, the best linseed or hempseed, or other oils proper for the
purpose, are to be used, boiled or raw, with