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CHAPTER VI. 
OF THE PREPARATION OF MARBLE FOR PLASTERING. 
MARBLE is not alike in all countries. In some places it 
contains pellucid particles, similar to those of salt, which, 
when bruised and ground, impart great solidity to plas¬ 
tering and cornices. When these are not to be obtained, 
the chips (assulæ), as they are denominated, which the 
workers in marble throw off in working, may be substi- 
tuted after being pounded and sifted. They are to be 
separated into three sorts, of which that which contains 
the larger particles, is, as we have above directed, to be 
laid on with the sand and lime : then follows the second 
coat, and afterwards, the third which is finer in texture. 
After this preparation, and a careful polishing of the 
work, the colours which it is to receive are to be consi¬ 
dered, so that they may be brilliant. Their variety and 
the method of preparing them will be found in the fol¬ 
lowing pages.