296 On burning Clay for Manure. 



and, as soon as it was well kindled, I built round a strong 

 wall of sods, and went on, adding clay to the fire, and 

 sods to the outer walls when necessary, till the kilns were 

 so large as to contain upwards of one hundred loads 

 of ashes. 



" The principal secret in burning consists in having 

 the outer wall made quite close and impervious to the 

 external air, and taking care to have the top always light- 

 ly, but completely covered with clay, because if the ex- 

 ternal air should come in contact with the fire, either on 

 the top of the kiln, or by means of its bursting through the 

 sides, the fire will be very soon extinguished. In short, 

 the kilns require to be attended nearly as closely as char- 

 coal pits. Clay is much easier burnt than moss or loam, 

 — it does not undergo any alteration in its shape, and on 

 that account allows the fire and smoke to get up easily 

 between the lumps, — whereas moss and loam, by crumb- 

 ling down, are very apt to smother the fire, unless care- 

 fully attended to. No rule can be laid down for regula- 

 ting the size of the lumps of clay thrown on the kiln, as 

 that must depend on the state of the fire, but I have 

 found every lump completely burnt on opening the kiln, 

 and some of them were thrown on larger than my head. 

 Clay no doubt burns more readily if it be dug up and 

 dried for a day or two before it be thrown on the kiln, 

 but this operation is not necessary, as it will burn though 

 thrown on quite wet. After a kiln is fairly set a-going, 

 no coal or wood, or any sort of combustible, is necessary, 

 the wet clay burning of itself, and it can only be extin- 

 guished by intention, or the carelessness of the operator, 

 the vicissitudes of the weather having hardly any effect on 

 the fires, if properly attended to. It may perhaps be ne- 



