62 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



These average quantities of fertilizing substances at reasonable 

 rates make up the following valuation: — 



9 055 lbs. Nitrogen at 13c $118 



2763 " Phosphoric acid at 5c 14 



2 250 " Potashatoc Oil 



$1 43 



This valuation is considerably less than the ordinary estimate of $2 

 per year and person. It is besides to be remembered that the experi- 

 ments upon which the foregoing estimate is based were, for the most 

 part, made upon individuals, and that great care was taken to avoid loss 

 of any of the products. For obvious reasons this would not be possible 

 in the case of collecting excreta in our towns and cities, and it beco^mes 

 a question as to what the value of these amounts to, under the ordinary 

 circumstances of the mass of their population. 



In order to obtain reliable figures from actual experience, a dry 

 moss closet was placed in the outside shed of a house in the town of 

 Hull, P.Q., occupied by a family of man, wife and three small children. 

 iT|he closet wias constructed as shoiwn in the accompanying drawing, 

 titled " double dry moss closet,'' the description on which indicates the 

 manner of working the closet. The essential features of the arrange- 

 ment are the movable shelf B, upon which the moss absorbent is placed 

 and the excreta received, and the re-use of the resulting moss manure 

 until the absorbent is fully saturated. Tjlie latter object is secured 

 by repeaitedly transferring the manure from the floor E to the shelf B 

 until it is too moist for use. 



This closet was charged in the spring of 1903 with 20 lbs. moss lit- 

 ter, and the product was removed, weighed and sampled in October. The 

 removal and subsequent handling of this product was easily accom- 

 plished and without the slightest annoyance to any one. Even in the 

 drying of the sample there were no disagreeable emanations, thus afford- 

 ing another proof of the efficiency of moss litter as a deodorant. The 

 product for the six months weighed 70 lbs. and part of it lost in drying, 

 an amount equivalent to 62-G% water or 43-8 lbs. on the 70 lbs. The 

 dried sample representing 26-2 lbs. assayed as follows: — 



Total Nitrogen 4 "88 per cent. 



Phosphoric Acid 479 per cent. 



Potash 3 12 per cent. 



