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XXXVI. — On the cheapest and best method of cstahlishinfj a Tile- 
Yard. By Frederick William Etheredui:. 
Prize Essay. 
Information required to be given under the following heads: — ■ 
1 . Mode of working the clay according to its qiialitij. 
2. Machine for makinf/ the tiles. 
3. Sheds for drying the tiles. 
4. Construction of the kiln. 
5. Cost of forming the establishment. 
6. Cost of the tiles when ready for sale. 
Having some considerable experience in the various qualities of 
clays in England^ and also in the preparation of them for brick 
and tile making, I venture to lay before the Society the following 
observations, and, deeming all matter not coming under the prin- 
cipal heads given by the Society for elucidation as foreign to the 
purpose, I shall proceed at once to treat of them in the order in 
which they stand at the head of this paper. 
1. Mode of loorking the Clay according to its Quality. 
Since the varieties of clay are so numerous, and each requires 
in some measure a different mode of treatment, it would be falla- 
cious to pretend that one general rule may be laid down under 
this head, which would be applicable to all. 
All laminated, plastic, and potter's clays, and those free from 
stones and other impurities, such as are found on the banks of the 
Tyne ; in Flintshire ; on the Clee Hills, and at Madely in Shrop- 
shire ; about Wareham and Poole, in Dorsetshire ; in the New 
Forest in Hampshire ; on the banks of the Medway in Kent; 
and in various other places, may be ranked among the best for 
drain-tile making. Little difficulty is found in their preparation, 
as they merely require to be dug in the winter, and thrown up on 
beds, when they are fit for the pug-mill in the spring. 
A peculiar clay occurs near Hexham in Northumberland, al- 
most like a quicksand in nature. It requires no working or 
winter's frost to improve it, but may at once be dug from the 
ground, pugged, and moulded, either by machinery or hand, into 
pipes or tiles of excellent quality. To this may be added all 
clays lying under peat-bogs, such as are found in South Wales 
and in various other districts. 
Clays, less tenacious and full of small lumps, provincially 
