S4 OFEARTHS. 



fhattery texture. Great quantities of it, and of the former, have 

 been digged for a manure. 



A friable afh-coloured marie, with a flight admixture of yel- 

 low, is on the common adjoining to a farm, called, the Stone- 

 Houfe, by the road-fide, near Shitlington-Hall, in Tynedale. It is in 

 a flratum of a confiderable thicknefs. It is heavy, and mode- 

 rately friable; falls in fhattery pieces on being cut with a fpade ; 

 colours the hands, and is freely diffufible in water. Depurated, 

 it works pleafantly into a pafte, not vifcid or tenaceous. Smooth- 

 ed with a knife, and cafl into a flow fire, it acquires a pale whi- 

 tifh-red colour, and a fine fkin, equalling fome of the Roman, 

 unglazed, figuline vefTels that I have feen fragments of at their 

 ftations of Condercum and Corcefter. It is well worth the trial for 

 the better fort of pottery, as it is to be had in fufficient quantities. 

 It does not effervefce with Aqua fortis. It would be a good ma- 

 nure, but is put to no ufe at prefent that I know of. 



On the edge of the brook above Tecket, in the grounds belong- 

 ing to the fmall hamlet of Overton, is a friable whitifh-yellow 

 marie. It is harfh to the touch, colours the hands, difFufes freely 

 in water, and fends up many bubbles. It does not efFervefce with 

 Aquafortis. In the fire it acquires a great hardnefs, and a dul lei- 

 colour. It is ufed to give hearth-flones and chimney-pieces a flone- 

 colour. To the inclofed commons now under culture, it might 

 feem to be no contemptible manure ; but, I fuppofc, the great 

 plenty of lime is the occafion of its negleft. 



Juft under the hill before the farm-houfe at Weft-wood, near 

 Htxham, is a friable white marie. It was only lately difcovered 

 in making a cut for a fence. It is in a kind of bog ; the flratum 

 three yards thick; great numbers of fhells of the fmall frefh 



water 



