Transportation of Xight-SoiL 43 



are generally remote from the city), their introduction 

 has also been of much benefit to the gardeners near 

 the large cities, in thus reducing the cost of stable 

 manure. The price would be even lower than it is, 

 were it not for the fact that large quantities are now 

 shipped by the car-load from the cities to distant points, 

 while but a few years ago no instance of the kind had 

 ever occurred. 



The old-fashioned privy-vault or cesspool is a source 

 of supply once largely depended upon, but now only 

 rarely met with ; as the general extension of water- 

 works to all the more compact centres of population, 

 and even to isolated country houses, has caused a 

 discontinuance of the earlier practice of allowing night- 

 soil to accumulate, and depending upon intermittent 

 removal by carts. 



Still there is sometimes a case of this kind to be 

 dealt with. The owner of the premises, if he has 

 facilities, will generally prefer to compost his material 

 on the spot, with a liberal proportion of light, dry 

 loam, rendering it perfectly inoffensive. It is a highly 

 stimulating fertilizer, and may be productive of excel- 

 lent results if discreetly used. When the owner's 

 object is simply to get rid of the contents of his vault, 

 — although formerly this was accomplished by bailing 

 into wagons specially built for the work (similar to the 

 offal-wagons now used for collecting kitchen refuse) — 

 it is found more convenient to use an ordinary (tight 

 built) cart or wagon ; in this, earth, chopped straw, 

 ashes, street sweepings, or any other convenient ab- 

 sorbents are conveyed to the spot. With earth and 



