Skction III., 1904 



[61] 



Trans. R. S. C 



XI. — On the Loss of Substances, Useful as Plant Food, Sustain' d 

 in Moss Manure, 



By Thomas Macfaklane. 



(Read June 23, 1904.) 



In a former paper on the utilization of human refuse, read before 

 the 3rd Section of the Society/ I made some reference to the value of 

 the excreta of town dwellers for agricultural purposes, and the various 

 estimates which had been made concerning it. I mentioned the sum 

 of $2 per person per annum as a reasonable valuation for the towns 

 of this country, but subsequent inquiry has convinced me that such a 

 result can only with difficulty be realized. The authorities which may 

 be consulted as to the investigations which have heretofore been made 

 on the subject are chiefly German, and the results of their labours have 

 been concentrated in Dr. Vogel's work on the utilization of town refuse.^ 

 From the figures there given the following may he deduced regarding 

 the quantity in kilogrammes and pounds of fertilizing constituents in 

 the excreta of one average person per annum. 



^ Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada, Vol. VIII, p. 87. 

 » Die Verwerthung der stadtischen Abfallstoffe; Berlin, Paul Parey, 1S96. 



