38 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



1,067 acres suffice to purify 15,060,000 gallons per day, the 

 drainage of four-fifths of the city, comprising a population of 

 over 600,000. There is some odor at the opening of the 

 large sewers, but in the fields there is no smell, and the sani- 

 tary conditions are all that could be desired. The efiiuent 

 drain-water of the farms is clear and pure, it being impossible 

 to recognize by chemistry or microscopy any influence of the 

 sewage. The surface systems are open ditches, and below 

 subsoil drains, about five feet deep, for the efiiuent water. 

 It is constructed solely to get rid of the sewage. Agricul- 

 ture is a secondary consideration, but at the present time 

 there is every assurance of its being profitable. 



Dantzic, with sewage, polluted her harbor at the mouth 

 of the Vistula on the Baltic, and consequently was obliged 

 to adopt other means of disposal. A barren island was 

 selected for irrigation. It had a sandy soil with no vegeta- 

 tion. The island is now in a high state of cultivation, and 

 the sanitary exposition at Brussels awarded an extra pre- 

 mium to the city for its successful farms. Mr. Aird, who 

 has the contract to take care of the sewage, sub-lets the 

 land to peasants at from twenty to thirty dollars per acre. 

 Pie finds it profitable, and has lately made a similar contract 

 with the city of Breslau. Florence, Milan, and Madrid, 

 have sewaoje farms, and the Italian o^overnment recommends 

 the system to cities of Italy. 



On the farm of Edinburg, in Scotland, are located beauti- 

 ful nurseries for the children of the city. At Lochend the 

 farm produces $200 worth of hay per acre. Sixteen acres 

 at Rugby furnish feed for fifty-four head of cattle, and at 

 Aldershot, Banbury, Bedford, Croydon, Norwood, War- 

 wick and "Worthing, the reports in detail show a wonderful 

 production of the land treated in this manner. Leamington, 

 after costly litigation and chemical experiments, contracted 

 with Lord Warwick to take the sewage on his farm. With- 

 out levelling the land, it has proved a great success in every 

 point of view, having transformed the poorest parts of the 

 farm into land of groat fertility. From eight to nine cuts 

 of Italian rye grass, two feet high, are made each year. 

 Celery, strawberries and currants grow remarkably well. 

 The beef, milk and butter are in great demand and bring 



