THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEBIAN'S COMPANION.— July 8 , 1856 
263 
and protection of their gelatinous bodies, and these arc not 
without their importance in the geological history of our 
planet. The chalk hills, whose cliffs are so characteristic of 
the south-eastern coast of this country, consist almost en¬ 
tirely of the shelly coats of innumerable multitudes of 
these minute creatures." 
“ The Sponges, perhaps the lowest forms in which animal 
existence is presented to our observation, are to be placed in 
this division, as they are also found to consist, essentially,of 
an aggregation of nucleated cells. It has often been con¬ 
sidered doubtful, whether these creatures are really animal 
organisms, as in many points, and especially in their mode 
of propagation, they very closely resemble the lowest forms 
of plants. Their true nature has long been a moot-point 
with naturalists; and by some zoologists they are altogether 
rejected from the animal kingdom, although the most recent 
I researches, and especially those of M. Laurent and of Mr. 
Carter, appear to establish their animal nature beyond a 
doubt.” 
Mr. Dallas then proceeds to the classification of the Pro¬ 
tozoa, which he divides into—1. llhizopnda ; 2. Porifcra; 3. 
Infusoria; all of which are treated at length in their orders 
and genera, with a full account of their organisation, and 
the habits of the different families. 
The work is copiously illustrated with wood engravings ; 
and when we state that the author has followed the most 
eminent naturalists in the various departments, we feel an 
assurance that his work will meet with that acceptance to 
which its merit entitles it. 
The Stepping Stone to Natural History.* —This is 
an elementary work, suited to much smaller capacities than 
the former; yet, nevertheless, one which also has its claims 
mul its mission. It is rightly termed a‘‘Stepping Stone;’’ 
for it is so simply and so clearly written, as to make the- sub¬ 
ject not only attractive, but intelligible to the dawning intel¬ 
lects of youth. Arranged in the form of question and 
answer, it embraces the whole of the vertebrated animals; 
and while it treats the subject scientifically, it is so fa¬ 
miliarly explained and so progressively developed, as to cause 
no great effort to the mind of the pupil. Wo like to see 
such works, which are intended for the instruction of youth, 
written, as this is, with every regard to the most recent scien¬ 
tific correctness, while at the same time the subject is clothed 
in such language as to make it easy of comprehension. It is 
beautifully illustrated with very fine engravings on wood. 
The Descriptive Geography of England.! —There 
cannot be a more instructive book for making young persons 
acquainted with the topography, resources, and constitution 
of their native country than this. It is, as its title states, a 
Catechism, and contains avast amount of useful information 
on the subject which it embraces. It is copiously illustrated 
with views of the principal objects throughout the country, 
and cannot foil to be eminently useful as a book of in¬ 
struction for youth. 
BURNING CLAY 
Has been practised as far back as history can carry us, 
and it is needless to say that in our day is made subservient 
both for use and ornament. Yet gardeners and farmers are 
a long way behind the potters and railway contractors in 
making the best use of it when within their reach. 
I am in the full belief that one-third of the gardens in 
the country have a clay subsoil, or at least a strong adhesive 
loam. Now, we all know without such is placed in favour¬ 
able situations, it prevents us from gaining one of the prin¬ 
cipal objects of all gardening, namely, early fruits and vege¬ 
tables. Besides, it encourages their growing propensities 
till a much later period in the season, therefore making 
them more liable to be destroyed by frost, when,at the same 
time, for summer work, if deeply trenched, it is the best for 
keeping up supplies of Teas and other favourite vegetables, 
* The Stepping Stone to Natural History; Vertebrate or Back-boned 
Animals, viz., Mammalia, Birds, Reptiles, and Fishes. By James Owen. 
London : Longmans. 
f A Complete Catechism of the Descriptive Geography of England. 
Compiled for the Use of Schools and Private Families. By T. Challencr. 
London: Longmans. 
such supply being almost an impossibility on dry, gravelly 
soils. 
What we want, therefore, is a soil intermediate. I 
have had to deal with as tenacious and adhesive soils as, I 
believe, can possibly be come in contact with, and I have 
tried silver sand by the hundred load, ashes, lime-rubbish, 
black peat, and every come-at-able moveable thing at all 
suitable that I could procure to try and change the nature 
of such soils, but without much success. Indeed, some 
soils, apparently, the more you give them the more self- 
willed they get; for if a little damp, even after all this ex- 
; pense and bother, they stick to the spade like pitch half hot; 
and again, if dry, are as stubborn as some of our old- 
fashioned bricks. In fact, such soil must be got rid of alto- 
■ gether or burned. I prefer the latter. But A. says, “ I 
commenced by rearing a pile, pyramidal fashion, of some 
two or three cart-loads of wood, covered it with clay, and 
j then set it on fire; but, behold you, after labouring hard at it 
for a week, I found that the wood had burnt the clay, which 
was of a very tenacious nature, only a little way through, 
leaving it hollow similar to an oven, or rather, something like 
those apologies for grottos that your would-be natural-still 
gentlemen leave behind them.” 
B. ,agaiD,tries the horizontal style; has a quantity of wood 
laid, being very particular about certain veins; or what he 
: calls flues of wood are properly laid at certain distances ; 
1 then lays on a quantity of clay, then another layer of wood, 
and then a little more clay, taking care to mix the wood nnd 
clay well together as ho proceeds. B. then sets fire to his pile, 
and to his delight it smokes nobly. 1 say nobly, for if the 
air is at all hazy before the smoke mixes with the atmo- 
] sphere, it hangs over his head in dense masses, giving a 
i pretty good outline of huge irregular mountains. He is told, 
j also,that it burns better wet than dry, and is pleased when a 
j shower or two occur in the course of the week, which all 
helps to keep up the smoke, but frequently at the end of the 
week he finds out the only portions at all burnt are his favourite 
flues. But B. is one of those who are not going to turn from 
j their favourite ways for a little obstacle; and, therefore, 
i the idea of digging out cross flues, and filling them 
up with wood, is no sooner thought of than put in 
practice, and a tough job it is. However, it is got over, 
and the torch is again applied, and away roars the fire ; but, 
alas for poor B.! it leaves the bulk as it was, and, at the 
end of a fortnight, he finds he has a large clump of clay in¬ 
termixed with sticks, which one can imagine B. wishes any¬ 
where else. 
C. tries the kiln order, and builds a wall of turf or cloy in 
a circular form, making all tight with the exception of one 
j place to admit air. In laying his pile he acts on similar 
principles to B. Now, A. B., and C. are, no doubt, good 
dry turf or couch-grass burners; but as far as my experience 
goes, they are, to use one of your learned writers’ words, 
j pseudo clay-burners, and, as sure as they try, will burn their 
: own pockets or of those who may employ them. 
I Believing the following is a step nearer in the right direc- 
■ tion, 1 lay it, with your permission, before your readers:— 
j Take, for instance, a vacant quarter that is intended for 
1 winter crops. Commence by casting out a trench at one 
j end, say two feet wide, and as deep as the soil in cultivation 
goes; but supposing it is two feet deep, I would then go a 
i foot deeper into the clay, and place it on the top of the soil 
J in the form of a ridge, keeping it as loose as possible. Then 
I take another, two feet in width, cart the soil into the trench, 
and place the clay on the top of it, similar to the last, and 
so on. If you intend draining it you can leave it lower 
where the drains are to be, which will save the trouble of 
removing the earth twice. At the end of a fortnight, if the 
weather has proved dry, what you dug first will be in good 
condition to commence burning. Begin in the same way 
that a housemaid does with her fires in the grates, using 
little wood and lumps of clay in place of coal, taking care 
to make it burn as evenly as possible, and, after it is fairly 
started,commence another about four to six feet from it, and 
so on thus— 
o o o o 
o o o o 
or, if you want a large clump together, place a row of fires 
round the first, or as many more as you like. This will 
save a great deal of trouble, as, commencing with one fire, 
