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when thin in substance, not only cracks, but soon decays. 
On the contrary, that which is well covered with plaster 
and stucco, and closely laid on, when well polished, not 
only shines, but reflects to the spectators the images 
falling on it. The plasterers of the Greeks thus not only 
make their work hard, by adhering to the above direc- 
tions, but, when the plaster is mixed, cause it to be beaten 
with wooden staves by a great number of men, and use 
it after this preparation. Hence, some persons, cutting 
slabs of plaster from the ancient walls, use them for 
tables ; and the pieces of plaster so cut out for tables 
and mirrors, are, of themselves, very beautiful in appear- 
ance. If stucco be used on timber partitions, which are 
necessarily constructed with spaces between the upright 
and cross pieces, and thence, when smeared with clay 
liable to swell with the damp, and when dry to shrink, 
and cause cracks, the following expedient should be used. 
After the partition has been covered with the clay, reeds, 
by the side of each other, are to be nailed thereon with 
bossed nails; and clay having been laid over these, and 
another layer of reeds nailed on the former, but crossed 
in their direction, so that one set is nailed upright, and 
the other horizontally; then, as above described, the 
sand and marble coats and finishing are to be followed 
up. The double row of reeds thus crossed on walls pre- 
vents all cracks and fissures. 
CHAPTER IV. 
OF STUCCO WORK IN DAMP PLACES. 
I HAVE explained how plastering is executed in dry situa- 
tions; now I shall give directions for it, that it may be 
durable in those that are damp. First, in apartments on 
the ground-floor; a height of three feet from the pave-