ORGANIC MANURES. 69 



one of the wells in constant use in Boston, examined by 

 Dr. Jackson, gave an appreciable per centage of night soil ! 



Treatment of Night Soil. No perfect mode has yet 

 been devised of managing night soil. For compactness and 

 facility of removal, we suggest, that in cities, metallic boxes 

 of sufficient capacity be placed in the privies, so arranged as 

 to be easily taken out in the rear, for the purpose of empty 

 ing their contents. To prevent corrosion, they may be made 

 of composite or galvanized metal. In the country where it 

 can be at once applied, tight wooden boxes may be used with 

 hooks on the outer side, to which a team may be attached 

 for drawing it out wherever required. The boxes should 

 have a layer of charcoal dust, charred peat or gypsum at the 

 bottom, and others successively as they become filled. 

 These materials are cheap, compact, and readily combine 

 with the volatile gases. Sulphuric acid is more efficient 

 than either, but more expensive. Quick-lime will neutralize 

 the odor, but it expels the enriching qualities ; and if it be 

 intended to use the night soil, lime Should never be mixed 

 with it. Both the charcoal and peat condense and retain 

 the gases in their pores, and the sulphuric acid of the gyp- 

 sum leaves the lime, and like the free acid, combines with 

 the ammonia, forming sulphate of ammonia, an inodorous 

 and powerful fertilizer. Raw peat, turf, dry tan-bark, saw- 

 dust and ashes are all good ; but as more bulk is needed to 

 effect the object, their use is attended with greater incon- 

 venience. From its great tendency to decompose, night soil 

 should be immediately covered with earth, when exposed to 

 the air. It is always saved by the Flemings and Chinese ; 

 the former generally using it liquid, and the latter, either as 

 a liquid, or mixed with clay and dried like brick. 



The sole use of this manure, guano, ashes, charcoal, lime, 

 gypsum and other salts, effectually prevents the propagation 

 of all weeds. Its value, like all others, depends much on the 

 food from which it is derived ; it being richest when large 

 quantities of meat and other nutritive food is consumed. 

 The difference in the products from the best hotels and poor- 

 ly supplied work-houses, though not in proportion to the first 

 cost of the food consumed, yet bears no inconsiderable ratio 

 to it. 



THE EXCREMENTS OF FOWLS. 



These contain both the feces and urine combined, and are 

 next to night soil in value. They should be kept dry, or 



