612 



Mr. T. Smith said, into his tank a large quantity of water was run, 

 and this he conceived was the best agent for mixing the refuse mat- 

 ter, and he thought it would also be the best agent for carrying away 

 the refuse of London. 



Mr. Rogers admitted water to be good enough in its way, but when 

 a drop of it fell on one of those particles of charcoal it was retained, 

 and given out as nourishment to vegetation in due time ; whereas, if 

 they poured water on the ground, and a bright sunshine was to follow 

 it, it was all absorbed by the atmosphere, and vegetation got no be- 

 nefit from it. 



Mr. Edwin Chadwick said he came there rather to gain informa- 

 tion, than to make any remarks of his own. He admitted that there 

 were cases where the agent referred to could be applied with propriety, 

 as he had heard of sugar casks being returned to the West Indies 

 filled with manure disinfected by such a process as that to which their 

 attention was now drawn. He did not, however, think that as re- 

 garded London the system could be brought into practical applica- 

 tion. The liquid manure he considered was quite sufficient for 

 agricultural purposes. It was easy of transmission, and was now 

 sent a considerable way into the country at a cheap rate, so that he 

 saw no reason for a change ; at the same time, he did not discourage 

 such investigations as the present, as the more facts they could 

 bring together on so important a subject, the better. 



Several other gentlemen spoke upon the subject, alluding to its 

 great interest; when Mr. Rogers sat down amidst much applause. 



Thanks were voted to Mr. Rogers for his valuable communication, 

 which was deemed worthy of the most serious consideration of the 

 inhabitants of London. 



Dundee Naturalists' Association. 



July 3, 1849.— The President in the chair. 



A paper was read from Mr. David Gorrie, Errol, on the progress of 

 vegetation during the spring and early summer of 1848 and 1849. 

 Mr. Gorrie remarked, that this season had not only lost its compara- 

 tive earliness, but had fallen very much behind that of last season ; 

 the recent frosts, unparalleled so far in the season in this climate, 

 having retarded vegetation very much. This season lost its excess 

 of earliness about the middle of April, when we had some days of 



