168 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



nitrogen ; and that it has been ascertained by analysis in this 

 respect that one hundred parts of the urine of a healthy man are 

 equal to thirteen hundred parts of the fresh dung of a horse, and 

 to six hundred parts of the fresh dung of a cow.&quot; 



&quot; The urine of men and of carnivorous animals contains a 

 large quantity of nitrogen, partly in the form of phosphates, 

 partly as urea. Urea is converted, during putrefaction, into car 

 bonate of ammonia ; that is to say, it takes the form of the very 

 salt which occurs in rain water. Human urine is the most 

 powerful manure for all vegetables containing nitrogen ; that of 

 horses and horned cattle contains less of this element, but infi 

 nitely more than the solid excrements of these animals.&quot; * 



I do not deem it necessary to cite any other authorities on 

 this subject. Mr. Dickenson s experience in the case is conclu 

 sive ; and he finds it for his advantage to save all the urine of 

 his stables, to carry it in carts a distance of five miles, and is 

 content to sell to those who will buy it his solid manure. 



Next to the introduction of fresh water into a city, the disposi 

 tion of its waste or sewerage, in respect to the sanatory condition 

 of the population, is most important, and ought to occupy in 

 tensely the consideration of the public men, and men of influence, 

 and the municipal authorities, in the United States. The influ 

 ence of cleanliness upon health, comfort, and morals, in all cities 

 or large aggregations of people, is of immense moment. In all 

 public works of drainage, extreme care should be taken to guard 

 against hurtful mistakes in the beginning ; and to make, under 

 the direction of the highest and most practical and experienced 

 engineering skill, such arrangements as will be effectual and 

 substantial without any mean reference to expense. Where any 

 portion of the sewerage of a city can be saved without offence, 

 and without danger to health, the results at Edinburgh, as evin 

 cing the value of such savings, show to how much considera 

 tion the matter is entitled. The agricultural value of one por 

 tion of this saving is estimated in Edinburgh at 150,000 

 sterling, which would be equal to a sum yielding an interest of 

 45,000 per year. This, we are to understand, is already ob 

 tained with very imperfect arrangements. After making a 

 deduction of all the miscellaneous matters which go to swell 



* Liebig, p. 97. 



