LOAM, pjj 
the tongue ; and, in a strong heat, is. hardened, and 
rendered perfectly white. 
It is of this clay that tobacco pipes are made, by 
the simple process of casting them in moulds, forming 
a hole through the stems by means of a wire, generally 
dipping the small end into some glazing material, and 
then baking them. Pipe clay is also formed into oblong 
pieces, dried, and employed for cleaning white woollen 
cloths, and for various purposes of domestic utility. It 
is likewise the basis of the yellow, or what is called 
Queen's ivare pottery. This is glazed in a manner 
somewhat different from that of common pottery. The 
glazing mixture consists of a certain proportion of car- 
bonat of lead (239), ground flint, andiimt glass, worked, 
with water to the thickness of cream. The ware, before 
it is glazed, is baked, and thus acquires the property- of 
strongly imbibing moisture. It is then dipped into tin- 
above composition ; exposed a second time to the fire, 
by which the glaze it has imbibed is melted. A thin 
glossy coat is thus formed upon its surface, which is 
more or less yellow, according to the greater or less 
proportion of lead that has been used. 
117. LOAM is a yellowish or brownish kind of clay ; suwc- 
times containing a considerable proportion of sand. It occurs 
in immense beds, and is found in almost every part of the 
world. 
This substance, when mixed with straw or hair, to 
prevent it from cracking, is extensively used for the 
building of what are called mud cottages or houses. 
These are generally reared on a foundation qf stone, or 
brickwork, to secure them from injury by the moisture 
of the ea^tb. It is said to be the most advantageous 
practice to form the loam into bricks, ssid to dry these 
in the shade, and afterwards in the S.UB. The use of suc.h 
bricks is of great antiquity. We are informed that the 
ancient city of Damascus, and even the walls &f Baby- 
lon, were constructed of bricks made of loam. 
VOL. I. E 
