17 JANUARY 1914, Page 16

CHEAP COTTAGES.

[To vas Eamon or sax ..87111CTATOIL.1

SIR,—With reference to the letter on "Pied Buildings" in your issue of November 22nd, the method employed by the Galicians in this country for the building of their houses might be of interest. They excavate a trench six feet wide, three feet deep, and, say, twenty feet long. Into this they throw layers of clay interposed with straw or hay. They then empty a few barrels of water on the top and drive their horses or oxen up and down the trench until it is all well mixed. The walls of the houses are built by hand of the mixture laid two feet thick. The roof is of poles covered with the same mixture, and the entire building is covered with lime or cement weal]. I built one wall myself last summer as an experiment; it is slow, dirty work single-handed, bat the wall ie absolutely draught-proof, and the heavy thunderstorms had no visible effect on it. I hope entirely to surround my house (a log structure) with clay walls next year if I can find that rare thing, spare time.—I am, Sir, Ac.,