350 



MANURES THE DRY EARTH SYSTEM. 



when the ordure is once decomposed and (by sifting) inti- 

 mately mixed with the earth, it has the same quality as any 

 other decomposed organic matter, i. e., it acts as a deodori- 

 zer. Consequently, the same earth (by drying and sifting) 

 may be used over and over again, always (at least up to the 

 eighth or tenth time of using) being inodorous and as good 

 a disinfectant as fresh earth ; therefore the quantity of earth 

 which it is necessary to prepare and store need not be very 

 large, and it may be made so rich as to be equal to Peru- 

 vian guano in its effect on vegetation. 



In short, in the opinion of the writer, who has had per- 

 sonal experience in the use ot the apparatus, in " sickness 

 and in health.'' the adoption of the dry earth system is 

 " the coming reform." 



TABLE, showing the comparative increase of corn ~by different 

 fertilizers. 



* Only the increase over the experiments 7 and 8 with stable manure alone. 



