222 The Farmstead 



growing trees. These will take up and utilize 

 vast quantities of liquid and decomposed solids, 

 and if the household is of only ordinary size 

 no nuisance will result. 



If water is limited and the dry -earth closet 

 must be adopted, then the cesspool for the 

 kitchen and laundry liquids need not be made so 

 large as described, but may be built in the same 

 manner. The dry-earth closet may be built as 

 follows : Construct a privy of suitable size, 5 to 

 20 feet from the most convenient rear door, and 

 connect it by a covered walk to the house. The 

 small building should be placed not less than 

 two feet above the ground, on a good, tight wall, 

 which should extend under three sides of the 

 building, the other side to be furnished with a 

 hinged door. Secure a large, iron -top, dump 

 wheelbarrow, which may serve to hold all f cecal 

 matter. This may be emptied weekly or monthly 

 into a nearby trench, previously prepared. A 

 few shovelfuls of earth thrown upon the ex- 

 creta will effectually arrest any offensive odors 

 which might otherwise arise. Before the ground 

 freezes in the fall dig a trench of sufficient 

 length to contain the f cecal matter during the 

 winter. In cold weather the barrow may be 

 inverted over the trench, and by the application 

 of a few quarts of hot water to the iron bottom 

 the frozen material will be released. When the 



