88

THEORY OF ARCHITECIURE. Book II.

such as tb;it of Guernsey, for instance, which is therefore now seldom adopted. The
Welsh granite has the same fault, for, with a large amount of traffic in dry weatlier, it
becomes necessary to throw gravel over it. Guernsey macadam, broken to pass through a
2^
inch mesh at the largest, is found to he by far the best material for the purpose, one
coat properly applied outlasting two of any other granite. The Devon granite being coarse
in giain, is used only in cuibs for second-rate streets, while for pitcliing it is not to he
compared in price or quality with that of Aberdeen. Blue Bombay, and blue Port Philip
granites, are hard and tough, and make good second-class roads
;
while grey China granite
is soft and friable, and only good for the foundation of a new road.
167'J6. We are indebted for several of the details here given on this subject, to tha
article in the Dictlonmy
of
Architecture of the Architectural Publication Society. Tha
Builder for 1866 has also entered on the merits of Scottisli granites.
1672c.
Table of the Weights of Granites.
Stirling Hill
High Rock, Breadal!)ane

Black Hill
Dalkey
.
- . -
Bars, Brcadalbane
Hay Tor
...
Blue, Penmaenmawr (Grauwacke)
Aberdeen grey .
- -

red
...
Coriiisii grey
. . -

red
Country.
Stirling
Stirling
Dublin
Devonshire -
Carnarvonshire
Aberdeenshire
Cornwall
Weight
foot, A.\
por rubii-
oiidupois
llig oz. dr.
165 14 5
166 9
166 10 4
169 9 7
109 11 5
165 3
160 1
166 8
165 4
166 12
164
Sect. III.
MARBLE.
1673. With the architect and sculptor the name of marble is applied to all stones, liardcr
than gvpsum, that are found in large masses, and are susceptible of a good polish. Ou
this principle, under the head of marble, are included many varieties of limestone, porphyry,
and even granite and fine-grained basalts. But with mineralogists tiie word is used in a
much more restricted sense, and is confined to such varieties of dolomite, swinestone, ar.d
compact and granularly foliated limestone as are capable of receiving a good polish.
1674.
'1
he external characters are as follows : colours white, grey, red, yellow, and green.
Has
generally but one colour, tliougli it is often spotted, dotted, stri|)ed, and veined.
Occurs massive, and in angido-granulur distinct concretions. Internally it alternates from
shining to glistening and glimmering
;
lustre intermediate between pearly and vitreous.
Fracture foliated, but oftentimes inclining to splintery. Fragments indeterminate, angular,
and rather blunt-edged. More or less translucent. Brittle, and easily frangible, lis
chemical characters are, that it generally piiosphoresces when pounded, or when thrown on
glowing coals. It is infusible before the blow-pipe. Dissol.cs with effervescence in acids.
Constituent parts. Lime .
- - .
56 50
C;irlionic acid .
- -
43-00
Water
....
0-50
100-00
1675. All the varieties may be burnt into quicklime; but it is found that in many of
Ihem the concretions exfoliate and separate during the volatilization of their carbonic acid,
so that by the time that they become perfectly caustic, their cohesion is destroyed, and
they fall into a kind of sand, which renders a common kiln inapplicable.
1676. The varieties of marble are almost infinite. Those employed by the ancient-;,
as well as porphyry, are noticed in the Glossary. Besides the paper On Marbles read in
1887 by Mr. Brindley. and quoted heieafter, the book by G. H. Blag rove
On
Marile
Decoration, Sy >, 1888, and that b> A. Lee, Marble and Marble Workers, 8vo. 1888, are valu-
able contributions to the subject.
1677. The principal part of the supply to England of whitish marble is from Carrara,
a small town or village of Tuscany, in Italy. The quarries at this place were celebrated
from an early period, and spots are still shown about them whence they dug the marble
for the Pantheon. INfasscs of marble are sometimes procured there nine feet in length and
from four to six in breadth. The quarries are the property of the principal inhabitants of