ECONOMIC FULLER'S EAETH. 
489 
underground, which conveys it to the works, more than half-a-mile dis- 
tant. Here the turbid water flows into a long shallow trough called a 
" maggie," and the coarser particles still contained in it then subside, and 
are caught by a series of little wooden steps placed across the bottom of 
the trough. By these processes the Fuller's Earth is purified. It is now 
run into large tanks, and the suspended earth is allowed to settle down 
gradually ; while the surface-water that is drained off, is said to be very 
soft, pure, and drinkable. These operations take about thirty days ; and 
now a damp clayey mass remains in the tank. This material is removed 
to a large drying shed, where by means of a furnace and hot-air flues, it 
is thoroughly dried, and is then ready for market.* 
In Gloucestershire an occasional bed of impure Fuller's Earth has been 
noticed: I found a layer in the railway-cutting near Notgrove (see p. 246). 
Fuller's Earth has also been noticed at Stonesfield (p. 312). 
Near Bath the Fuller's Earth has been worked at Combe Hay (C.), 
English Combe (E.), Odd Down (0.), South Stoke (S.), Midford (M.), 
Lyncombe (L.), Widcombe (W.), and Wellow (We.). The following 
statistics are taken from the Eeports of the Government Inspector of 
Mines : 
Statistics of the Production of Fuller's Earth. 
Years. 
Localities. 
Tons. 
Value at the 
Mine or 
Open Work. 
1882 - C., E., S., L. and W. 
1,002 

500 
1883 
C., S., L. aiid W., M. - 
1,752 
876 
1884 
C., E., L. and W., M. - 
1,865 
933 
1885 
C., E., L. and W., M., S. 
2,244 
l,132f 
1886 
C., O., L. and W., M., S. 
3,156 
1,603$ 
1887 
W., C., 0., M., S., We. - 
4,944 
2,472 
1888 
No separate relurns. 
1889 
W., C., M., S., We. 
6,528 
8,160 
1890 
C , M., 0., S., We. 
6,605 
9,900 
1891 
C., M.,0., S., We. 
5,004 
7,506 
1892 
C., M., O., S., We. 
4,965 
4,300 
Prices have varied from 30s. to ever 61. per ton : but in recent years 
the value has been from 10s. to 2L according as the earth is dressed or 
undressed. 
* These notes are taken from an article printed in " Bladud," for March 16th, 1887 ; 
see also Proc. Geol. Assoc., vol. xiii. p. 126. 
f Value of 120 tons of White Clay from Cheddar Hill included, 
j Do. of 50 tons. 
Includes White Clay (as above, no amount stated). 
