What is the process for pastering a wall for a "plaster and lathe"
wall. Not repair the wall, but start from the beginning and plater
onto the lathe and end up with a smoth surface that rivals the smooth
look of sheetrock?

Hello pillownapper-ga,

As was said in the comments, this is a very hard thing to get smooth
and look correct.

There are two kinds of plaster you can use:
1. Lime-based plaster - This was mixed with animal hair and sand to
give it stability and strength. I recommend this one.

2. Gypsum based plaster 

A three-coat system is used in either case. Once you have the lathe in
place. Pre-wet the laths with water mist. You do this by spraying
clean cold water before starting to spread the scratch coat.

First, you do a Scratch Coat, which is where the plaster is pressed
into the lathe to form the plaster "keys" to hold it in place. It
should be about 10mm thick, and do not attempt to work the plaster, as
it will just stick and cause a mess. After the top forms a crust,
scratch in the opposite direction of the lathe to give the second coat
something to grasp.
This layer should sit for about 4-7 days to set before the second coat
is places on. This is your most coarse layer of plaster since it has
the hair in it.

Second, you do a Brown Coat (Basically, a second coat), it should be
about 7mm thick. It is also the coarse stuff, but no hair is added.
Scratch as well once a crust forms and give 4-7 days to sit.

Then mist spray the surface of the second coat with clean cold water.
Allow time for the water to be absorbed.

Then, the 3'd coat should be applied to make the entire assembly about
1/2" thick. The finish coat of plaster has to be "packed" - trowelled
under pressure until it is mirror smooth. It is usually very fine
grain.

It's a long process as well, with the recommendation on a website being:
"A 3-coat plaster job must cure for 30 days or more. In fact,
homeowners used to be warned to wait an entire year before painting
plaster walls"

Google Search used:
How to plaster and lathe
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=how%20to%20plaster%20and%20lathe&btnG=Google+Search

Useful Links on the subject:
http://www.phouka.com/oldhouse/ren_plaster.html
http://www.papercrete.com/plaster.html

If this answer requires further explanation, please request
clarification before rating it, and I'll be happy to look into this
further.
Nenna-GA
Google Answers Researcher

That sounds harder than just putting up sheet rock.  Most plastered
walls are done with texture, not smooth.  Construction techniques vary
with geographic region.   I can help you with sheet rock questions, as
I have hung plenty of it.  Good luck with your walls!

I'm with Daytrader, drywall is a lot easier to work with.  Once the
drywall is up, you can texture it any way you want.