The local style in stone walls is to have fat mortar joints. I'm curious why this would be done. Is it fashion? Something peculiar about the local stone? Skill or lack of skill on the part of the masons? (A quick search for photos to show a stone wall gave me the web page of a welding company. See the stone work in "design 99" http://www.torreswelding.com/fencing_and_panels.htm )
I've always read that fat joints in masonry are weak and less resistant to weathering. Mortar mix sold for brick and block work isn't very strong. Can some special mortar be used that makes fat joints reasonable?