228 HANDY-BOOK OF HUSBANDRY. 



other facilities for drying than those described above, found four 

 barrels to be sufficient for a commode constantly used by three 

 persons. 



Under the arrangement discussed above, with a reservoir and 

 two bins, each holding a three months' supply for a family of ten 

 persons, each receptacle would require a capacity equal to that 

 of a cube of three and a half feet, which would give an abun- 

 dant supply for all emergencies. These receptacles once being 

 filled, no more earth would be needed for from four to five years. 

 All that would be required would be that four times a year the 

 earth be shifted, and that occasionally the contents of the vault 

 be leveled off^. 



By Professor S. W. Johnson's estimate of the value of night- 

 soil as manure, this earth, after it has passed six times through the 

 closet, would be worth from $200 to $250. Other estimates would 

 give it a much higher value. 



SIFTING THE EARTH. 



The earth for the closet must not only be dry, it must be sifted. 

 Up to a certain point, the finer it is the more efi^ective it is. 

 That is, while it will answer the purpose if it is passed through 

 a common coal-sifter, it will much better envelop the deposit, 

 will distribute itself more widely, and will make more dust in 

 every part of the vault, (a desirable thing, on account of the 

 exhalations from the uncovered fresh faeces,) if it has been passed 

 through a sieve having four meshes to the inch. The finer the 

 sieve the more will small pebbles be excluded. These are objec- 

 tionable not only on account of the space they occupy, but they 

 dilute the earth proper, and do no good. 



THE KIND OF EARTH TO BE U/ED. 



The best earth is that used for making bricks or earthenware ; 

 that is, a strong clay, containing enough sand or vegetable matter 

 to prevent it from caking ; but any soil or subsoil that contains 



