o make them as
free from defects as possible. After finishing the plank flooring, lay a
second plank flooring over it at right angles, and nail it down so as to
give double protection to the framework. Then, mix with new broken stone
one third the quantity of pounded tile, and let lime be added to the
mixture in the mortar trough in the proportion of two parts to five.

6. Having made the bedding, lay on this mixture of broken stone, and
let it be not less than a foot thick when the beating is finished. Then,
after laying the nucleus, as above described, construct the floor of
large cubes cut about two digits each way, and let it have an
inclination of two digits for every ten feet. If it is well put together
and properly rubbed down, it will be free from all flaws. In order that
the mortar in the joints may not suffer from frosts, drench it with
oil-dregs every year before winter begins. Thus treated, it will not let
the hoarfrost enter it.

7. If, however, it seems needful to use still greater care, lay two-foot
tiles, jointed together in a bed of mortar, over the broken stone, with
little channels of one finger's breadth cut in the faces of all the
joints. Connect these channels and fill them with a mixture of lime and
oil; then, rub the joints hard and make them compact. Thus, the lime
sticking in the channels will harden and solidify into a mass, and so
prevent water or anything else from penetrating through the joints.
After this layer is finished, spread the nucleus upon it, and work it
down by beating it with rods. Upon this lay the floor, at the
inclination above described, either of large cubes or burnt brick in
herring-bone pattern, and floors thus constructed will not soon be
spoiled.

CHAPTER II

THE SLAKING OF LIME FOR STUCCO

1. Leaving the subject of floors, we must next treat of stucco work.
This will be all right if the best lime, taken in lumps, is slaked a
good while before it is to be used, so that if any lump has not been
burned long enough in the kiln, it will be forced to throw off its heat
during the long course of slaking in the water, and will thus be
thoroughly burned to the same consistency. When it is taken not
thoroughly slaked but fresh, it has little crude bits concealed in it,
and so, when applied, it blisters. When such bits complete their slaking
after they are on the building, they break up and spoil the smooth
polish of the stucco.

2. But when the proper attention h