'78 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



the surface soil of the earth exerts an active, 

 purifying power upon these offensive 

 wastes, converting them into harmless sub- 

 stances and at the same time increasing the 

 fertility of the soil. This excreta is better 

 placed below the surface. It is interesting 

 to note how in so ancient a document as the 

 Pentateuch (Deut. xxiii, 13) it was especial- 

 ly enjoined upon the Israelites that excre- 

 ments should not be allowed to lie upon the 

 soil, but should be covered with earth. In 

 a general way, the best way to dispose of 

 solid excrement of closets is by the dry 

 earth system. It is a method still practised 

 in several populous cities of Europe, and is 

 a very safe one. The material is collected 

 by the pail or box system ; immediately cov- 

 ered by some absorbent material and trans- 

 ferred to the soil. The absorbent material 

 used for this purpose is : ashes, dry, finely 



divided particles of earth, peat, moss, etc. 

 In disposing of waste of this kind, be sure 

 that it is not placed near the well. 



The liquid sewage may be disposed of by 

 a system of sub-soil irrigation. This may 

 be effectively carried out by having a recep- 

 tacle placed some distance from and con- 

 nected with the house by means of a trap- 

 ped tank. 



Almost any one of us can cast our mind's 

 eye at this moment upon the external ap- 

 pearance of many farm houses, whose un- 

 attractive, untidy surroundings are a menace 

 to health, and an offence to the eye. In 

 some places wastes are removed but once a 

 year, this being thought sufficient, instead 

 of clearing away all wastes as soon as pro- 

 duced. Let us do all that lies in our power 

 to make the farm home healthful and beau- 

 tiful. 



SENSITIVE HORSES 



The horse does not like a nervous, fid- 

 getty, fussy or irritable man. He is too ner- 

 vous and irritable himself, says Country 

 Life in America. " Why is it," one team- 

 ster was heard to ask another, " that Phin's 

 horses are always gaunt ? Phin feeds well." 

 ■' Yes," was the reply ; " but he's like a wasp 

 around a horse." A well-known owner of 

 race horses, not at all a sentimental person. 



recently made an order forbidding his em- 

 ployes to talk in loud tones or to swear in 

 the stable. " I have never yet seen a good- 

 mannered horse," he says, " that was being 

 sworn at all the time. It hurts the feelings 

 of a sensitive horse, and I'll keep my word 

 good to discharge any man in my employ if 

 I catch him swearing within the hearing of 

 anv horse in this stable." 



USE OF FRUIT 



WE do not use enough fruit. We do 

 not realize how very healthful it 

 is. Our tables should never be without it 

 in some form, and it should take the place of 

 meat almost entirely during the heated 

 months of summer. We should eat it be- 

 tween meals — not munch on it, but lunch on 



it — when we are working long hours. When 

 the stomach gets empty we must draw upon 

 our reserve force, and that burns the tissues. 

 A light lunch of fruit will prevent this, and 

 gives us also a few moments recreation and 

 we return to our tasks with renewed energy. 



