among builders, is the plastering the house all over the outside with mortar, and then striking it while wet by a ruler, with the corner of a trowel, to make it resemble the joints of free-stone. Some direct it to be done upon heart-laths, because the mortar would, in a little time, decay the sap-laths; and to lay on the mortar in two thicknesses, viz. a second before the first is dry.