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The clay is, of course, brought from the clay beds in caked masses. It should be kept out of doors, for the wind and weather are good for it. In preparing it, the great lumps are pounded up fine and put through a sieve in which there are thirty to forty meshes to the inch. It is now ready for soaking. A common mistake is to pour water upon the clay in its rock state and then employ a boy or spend one’s own time kneading it into condition. The more simple and practical process is to sift it as already described, and then add the powdered clay to the water. In this way, each particle is wet at once, and in much less time the clay is ready for use. If it proves that too much water has been provided, pour off some after the clay is well mixed, and, if it is still too moist, spread it upon plaster slabs in the air; which will soon dry it sufficiently—the plaster itself absorbing much of the surplus moisture.

It is often possible, at slight expense, to obtain the clay already sieved and mixed from a pottery, and this is, of course, an advantage.