Full text: Vitruvius: The architecture of Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, in ten books

CHAPTER II. 
OF TEMPERING LIME FOR STUCCO. 
HAVING given the necessary directions in respect of pave¬ 
ment, we shall explain the method of stuccoing. This 
requires that the lime should be of the best quality, and 
tempered a long time before it is wanted for use ; so that 
if any of it be not burnt enough, the length of time em¬ 
ployed in slaking it may bring the whole mass to the 
same consistence. If the lime be not thoroughly slaked, 
but used fresh, it will when spread throw out blisters, 
from the crude particles it contains, which, in execu¬ 
tion, break and destroy the smoothness of the stucco. 
When the slaking is properly conducted, and care taken 
in the preparation of the materials, a hatchet is used, si¬ 
milar to that with which timber is hewn, and the lime is 
to be chopped with it, as it lies in the heap. If the 
hatchet strikes upon lumps, the lime is not sufficiently 
slaked, and when the iron of the instrument is drawn out 
dry and clean, it shews that the lime is poor and weak; 
but if, when extracted, the iron exhibits a glutinous sub¬ 
stance adhering to it, that not only indicates the richness 
and thorough slaking of the lime, but also shews that it 
has been well tempered. The scaffolding being then pre- 
pared, the compartments of the rooms are executed, ex¬ 
cept the ceilings be straight.
	        
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