REPORT ON THE APPLICATION OF SEWAGE. .'» 



be different in a very moist climate, such as that which prevails 

 in the west of Scotland, from what would be the case in a com- 

 paratively dry climate, such as that of the midland counties of 

 England, or the east coast of Scotland. The experience, therefore, 

 of its effects in the one locality cannot with safety be taken as 

 a guide for its application in the other, unless, indeed, careful 

 consideration be given, and due allowance made. Nor will it bo 

 sufficient to consider alone the number of inches of rainfall, the 

 general state of humidity or dryness of the atmospheie is of yet 

 greater importance — the Hygrometer must be consulted as well 

 as the rain-guage. 



The third point is the Nature of the Soil. As a general rule, 

 it may be safely affirmed that land of the best quality, the 

 highest class land, in fact, in point of fertility, is the least 

 adapted for Sewage irrigation. Strong clay land, for example^ 

 although it has undoubtedly the inherent power of abstracting 

 the most valuable mauu-real constituents of the Sewage, is by no 

 means well adapted for sewage irrigation, from its physical tex- 

 ture. Instead of percolating through such land, the liquid 

 would largely run off it, carrying away the fertilising matter 

 either on the surface, or by means of the under-ground drains. 

 Or if the land be flat, the liquid may stagnate on the surface, 

 and the crop receive- inj ury from the necessarily slow drainage. 



The fourth point is the Quality of the Sewage. This must 

 have some influence upon the produce of the soil, and we know 

 well that there is considerable variation, not alone in, different 

 localities where it is more or less affected by the water supply 

 of the town, but the quality varies at different hours of the day, 

 and at different seasons of the year, according to the amount of 

 rainfall. 



The fifth point is the Quantity to be Obtained. This is of 

 very great consequence to the Sewage farmer. No one need 

 expect success in the application of Sewage, who can not obtain 

 it either in large or small quantities as he requires it. Com- 

 mand over quantity at all times is absolutely necessary, if 

 Sewage is to be applied profitably to the crops of the farm. 



The sixth point is the Cost to the Farmer — and it is the 

 most important of all. If the farmer is obliged to take the 

 Sewage all the year round, and every day of the year, as is so 

 generally the case under agreement with Boards of Health, and 

 other local authorities, it is quite evident that a very small price 

 indeed can be put upon it. Under such circumstances, from 

 one farthing to one halfpenny per ton, is quite sufficient, if 

 indeed the latter be not too much, but if he can obtain it when 

 he pleases, where he pleases, and in any quantity, from two to 

 three pence per ton may be given, and sometimes more. 



I will now proceed to explain how far, in accordance with 



