LIQUID MANURE. 57 



on the surface." This opinion as to the economy of the 

 practice will very probably be found premature on further 

 experience. 



CHAPTER //VW., l l Y / 



\ [y ^/J/<'(;/>^ 



IRRIGATION WITH LIQUID^ IfiSRSaj^ 



The ordinary cultivation of gardens exhibits a most 

 striking want of economy. Farm gardens, and those 

 smaller ones attached to village dwellings, ought to be 

 cultivated in the most careful and economical manner. 

 Not a drop of rain water ought to be allowed to go to 

 waste. The house-slops should be carefully utilized. The 

 cesspool, the stable, and the garbage-heap ought to serve 

 the useful and appropriate purpose of aiding in the pro- 

 duction of the household vegetables and fruits. But, on 

 the contrary, it is doubtful if they are so utilized com- 

 pletely in any single homestead upon this continent. In 

 some few cases they have been made to partially serve 

 their proper purpose with the best effects. It is, however, 

 in more densely-populated countries that liquid manuring 

 has been practiced, and these valuable materials made 

 serviceable. Without going so far as China and Japan, 

 for examples of this economy, it may be stated that Bel- 

 gium, the most thickly-peopled country of Europe, 

 offers the nearest and most conspicuous example of the 

 preservation of every kind of animal manure, both solid 

 and liquid, and its manipulation in tanks for the purpose 

 of applying its solution or dilution to gardens and small 

 farms. In many parts of England, too, this system is 

 closely followed, and the market farmers adjoining towns 

 and cities carefully collect the waste of the dwellings for 

 use upon their crops. 



