132 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



fact that the liquid in a privy vault seeps away is sufficient evidence 

 that it has struck some porous strata and is going somewhere, and the 

 frequent cases of typhoid and diphtheria on what should be thorough- 

 ly healthful farms are ample proof that it all too frequently finds its 

 way to the source- of drinking water. Another fact that should not be 

 lost sight of is that wells are usually fed by underground courses, and 

 one of these may pass directly beneath the privy vault. 



The cleanest, safest, and in every way least objectionable privy 

 is the form known as earth closet. In such an one a quantity of fine, 

 dry earth is kept handy for constant use, while beneath is a receptacle 

 for the excreta. Every time the privy is used a small quantity of 

 earth is emptied into this receptacle, and at frequent intervals the 

 night soil, made as little offensive as possible by the admixture of dry 

 earth, is nauled away, to be applied to some portion of the farm 

 where there can be no possible danger of infecting the water supply. 



Where there is difficulty in the matter of ultimate disposal with- 

 out the use of a cesspool, and the consequent and apparently unavoid- 

 able risk thereby incurred of contaminating the well water, it would 

 be better to use an earth closet. This is not wholly satisfactory, but 

 is safer and far better than the provision so often found on farms and 

 in villages. The house containing it should be well built and sub- 

 stantial, well lighted and ventilated, with a good roof, and preferably 

 plastered on the inside to insure less exposure in cold weather. A 

 carefully made and dry walk, screened by lattice for protection from 

 the wind and for privacy, should be built to it. The excreta should 

 be received in a galvanized-iron pail, not too large and made to fit 

 close under the seat. This seat can be like that of an ordinary water- 

 closet. Each time the closet is used dry earth is added. The pail 

 should be emptied very frequently. With proper attention this closet 

 need not be, and should not be, built far from the house. It would 

 even be possible to place it in a room built against the house, the room 

 having one door opening from the house and another opening out of 

 doors. This would make it possible to enter from the house in in- 

 clement weather, and also to carry out the pail without passing 

 through the house. The room should be well ventilated by a window 

 close to the ceiling, and only tissue paper should be used. 



The earth for use in these places is to be found in nearly every 

 field and garden and should be of rather a loamy nature if possible, 

 and porous. A very sandy soil is next to useless. Large heaps of 

 earth should be collected for the year's use and dried in the summer 

 sun. It is not necessary to use perfectly dry earth, but it is always the 

 best. (F. B. 126; F. B. 463.) 



Protection of Buildings. The ordinary farm building is not dif- 

 ficult to protect from lightning flashes in the great majority of cases. 

 While absolute protection can not be secured unless the building be 

 incased in a network of wires, it is believed that a building with a 

 properly installed system of lightning conductors will fare better than 

 one without such a system in case a discharge of the most violent type 

 should fall upon it. 



