156 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [July, 



sulphate of lime. This lays hold of the volatile ammonia (the most offensive 

 ingredient), and changes it into a fixed salt. The gypsum effects a double 

 decomposition ; it changes the sulphate into a carbonate of lime, and the 

 carbonate into a sulphate of ammonia. Now, this sulphate, although soluble 

 in water, cannot be distributed in the air ; consequently, the disagreeable smell is 

 prevented, and the manure continues as valuable, or more so, than ever. The 

 gypsum must be pounded fine and sprinkled among the sewage at the rate of from 

 61b. to 101b. to the ton. An excess of gypsum does no harm, and only adds to the 

 value of the sewage. Bleaching powder, sulphuric acid, and many other sub- 

 stances are used for disinfecting sewage, and it matters little which is adopted, 

 provided it is cheap, and simple in its application. But notwithstanding all that 

 has been said and written upon disinfectants, I have not used any for years. 



By using sewage early in the morning or late in the evening, it is astonishing 

 how soon the bad odour vanishes. The roots and leaves together speedily devour 

 it, and after an hour or two no smell of sewage is perceptible. Our two tanks 

 are constantly in use all the year round, and are kept at the lowest ebb through- 

 out the summer. Here sewage is in use every day in the year. Plants in pots 

 growing rapidly or flowering profusely, such as pelargoniums, fuchsias, camellias, 

 &c, receive it every day ; others, such as azaleas and caladiums, every other day ; 

 roses in pots, vines, &c, are never watered with clean water. Out of doors, the 

 whole flower garden is sewaged, and I have not yet met with any bedding plan 

 that objects to it ; whereas most of them seem to enjoy it amazingly, and lick 

 up with a relish. For vegetable culture it is my best help. Being rather short 

 of solid, I fall back heavily on liquid manure, and nothing can excel sewage as 

 a producer of sweet, succulent, tender vegetables. Small fruits, such as straw- 

 berries, gooseberries, currants, and raspberries, become large beneath its forcing 

 influence. And apples on the paradise, pears on the quince, peaches, and apricots 

 heavily laden on walls, have all been treated with sewage with decided benefit. 

 For its distribution we use hand-carts, and a horse-cart, and common water-pots. 

 Our tanks are furnished with pumps. 



The question has often been asked, — What do you do with your sewage in 

 winter ? Pour it on to any vacant ground, or soak manure heaps, ashes, and 

 other rubbish ; in one word, it is used thus directly to enrich the ground, or to 

 make or increase the value of our solid manure. During summer it is all at 

 once applied to growing plants, and one of the chief merits of sewage is that it 

 can be utilized at once. Plants can only absorb food in a fluid or gaseous state. 

 Neither roots nor leaves can directly consume solids. All solids must be con- 

 verted into either water or air, before they can enter into or become part of a 

 living plant. Now, sewage is simply water, foul, it is true, but fouled with the 

 quintessence of manure. It holds animal, vegetable, and mineral manures in sus- 

 pension. The solids are solved or broken down by water, and thus prepared to 

 become invaluable food for the plants. 



