432 KALM S ENGLAND. 



supported as it widened out by these closely-laid, parasol- 

 shaped balks, or struts ; for if these struts had not been 

 there, the upper part of the kiln would not have been 

 able to stand. These balks so arranged were fastened by 

 their upper ends to other horizontal balks, which were 

 shaped into a frame adapted for that special purpose, 

 whereon a platform was made on which they could go 

 and walk around the kiln, and carry chalk, coals, and any- 

 thing that was necessary for the same. Down at the 

 bottom the limekiln had four openings, or mouths, Ugns- 

 nmnnar, through which the fully burned chalk could 

 be taken out, and by means [T. II. p. 82] of which the 

 wind always found access to play in and heat up the 

 coal in the kiln, so that there was always a strong 

 draught. 



Each kiln-mouth, Ugnsmun, which was square, was 

 30 inches broad and 2 feet high. The perpendicular 

 part, i.e., the lower part of the kiln, was externally an 

 octangle in this way, that starting with one of the sides 

 that stood perpendicular, the oven's mouth was in the 

 next, in which the upper part of the side stood quite as 

 far out as the perpendicular face, but afterwards went 

 more and more in, the lower it got, till at the bottom of 

 this inwardly sloping part was the kiln-mouth. They 

 had in most cases built a screen of boards round the 

 kiln with two entrances, one on each side, to prevent 

 the too excessive blasts of the wind. This screen was on 

 the outside of the kiln, for on the other side, the bank 

 with its perpendicular sides, against which the lime-kiln 

 was built, performed the same service. The bottom of 

 the bank where they were now getting the chalk was 

 horizontal with the upper surface or the edges of the 

 lime-kiln. When they burn chalk to lime in this kiln, 

 dry brushwood or sticks are laid on the bottom to light 

 the fire with, then a thin stratum of coal, then a stratum 



