_1819 Conditions Returned._--"The depletion of our home-grown timber supply and the prohibitive cost of practically all building material has in effect brought about the conditions that led our forefathers to utilise suitable material that lay nearest to hand, and unless some endeavour is made to follow their methods and profit by their example, it will be impossible to provide sufficient buildings for the necessary equipment of the allotments and small holdings, let alone housing accommodation for the workers on the land."
There is probably no one who knows more about cob than does Mr. Fulford--certainly no one who has done more to promote the revival of cob-building both by precept and example.
Cob is the traditional material of his native place, he has, as it were, been brought up on cob--he is familiar with both the ancient history and the modern practice of cob-building, and in short, he "knows."
When a revivalist has knowledge as well as enthusiasm, the grounds of his faith are usually worth serious attention.
_What it is._--"Pisé de terre" is merely the French for rammed earth, and rammed earth is an exceedingly good material for the building of walls.
The odd thing is that its very obvious merits should have secured it such small attention.
It is no new-fangled war-time invention brought forth by our present necessity, but a very ancient system well proved by centuries of trial.
_History._--Pliny gives an excellent account of Pisé-building in his _Natural History_, and Monsieur Gorffon, who published a treatise on this method of construction in 1772, states that it was first introduced into France by the Romans.
The following extracts from an old book based on a French original will serve well as an introduction to the study of Pisé-building:
_Capabilities._--"An account of a method of building strong and durable houses, with no other materials than earth; which has been practised for ages in the province of Lyons, though little known in the rest of France, or in any other part of Europe. It appeared to be attended with so many advantages, that many gentlemen in this country who employ their leisure in the study of rural economy were induced to make a trial of its efficiency; and the result of their experiments has been of such a nature as to make them desire, by all possible means, to extend the knowledge and practice of so beneficial an art.