248 
On Burning Clay for Manure. 
pared night-soil, or, at any rate, powdered charcoal, is easily and 
readily made to this compost, thus (for the drill) counteracting 
any excess of moisture. 
With a supply of soil or clay from any rough unproductive 
spot, with bush-faggots or firs, bavins and roots, or old timber 
stools, and by collecting in tanks all the animal liquor that would 
otherwise be losi, and then making the ashes the depository or 
vehicle of valuable liquor, it is not difficult for any one to com- 
mand annually an immense quantity of good manure. 
If the soil can be obtained near to the kilns, six men could 
carry on the whole work, and the whole value of the fuel con- 
sumed would be about two guineas weekly. Of course the total 
expense would be greater if the soil is to be carted to the kilns. 
I have given in the preceding page the measurement and plans 
of the kilns. 
Faithfully yours, • 
Walter Long. 
Preshaw House, Bishops- Waltham, Hants, 
June 10, 1846. 
I used this manxne alone in 1843 and 1844 for Scotch yellow turnips, 
and after for rape — both crops were, very good. I used it alone for rye- 
i^rass and clover, and for meadows, and invariably there was a great 
difi'erence from where there was none ; and again, it was always better 
where a greater quantity was used, or where heaps had been placed to 
he spread. The men employed, and the neighbours, used to point out 
the spots to me, and the natural growth of white clover and trefoil. 
I have found it highly l)eneiicial for oats, the saturated ashes sown 
thickly after the presser, producing a good crop in the jjlaces in which 
it was applied alone. 
In my last year's crop of swedes I combined with the saturated ashes 
3 bushels of bones and sulph. acid, and drilled them on land that was 
dunged ; but the crop was 24 tons per acre on very poor land ! 
We all know the value of ashes as a vehicle to mix with better things : 
the only merit (if any, in my process) I consider to be the being able to 
burn it in kilns to powder instead of brickbats, and in the winter under 
cover, and finding useful employment for surplus labourers in bad wea- 
ther, &c. ; and also the sufiering nothing to be wasted about a place 
in the way of liquid, by being jirovidcd with a constant receptacle in 
the ashes, and the combination becoming a suljjhatc of ammonia, and 
ever (when ])lenty in store) good at need, and for any ]nirpose, cither by 
itself or in combination with guano, soot, charcoal, &c. 
