CALCAREOUS MANURES— PRACTICE. j 4 J 



would have had very httle effect in arresting and retaining the aeriform 

 products of putrefaction. All the circumstances of this experiment, and 

 particularly the good effect exhibited by the manure when put to use, prove 

 the propriety of extending a similar practice. In the neighborhood of 

 towns, or wherever else the carcasses of animals, or any other animal sub- 

 stances subject to rapid and wasteful putrefaction, can be obtained in great 

 quantity, all their enriching powers might be secured, by depositing them 

 between layers of marl, or calcareous earth in any other form. On the 

 borders of the Chowan, immense quantities of herrings are often used as 

 manure, when purchasers cannot take oft' the myriads supplied by the 

 seines. A herring is buried under each corn-hill, and fine crops are thus 

 made as far as this singular mode of manuring is extended. But what- 

 ever benefits have been thus derived, the sense of smelling, as well as the 

 known chemical products of the process of animal putrefaction, make it 

 certain that nine-tenths of all this rich manure, when so applied, must be 

 wasted in the air. If those who fortunately possess this supply of animal 

 manure would cause the fermentation to take place and be completely 

 mixed with and enclosed by marl, in pits of suitable size, they would in- 

 crease prodigiously both the amount and permanency of their acting ani- 

 mal manure, besides obtaining the benefit of the calcareous earth mixed 

 with it. 



But without regarding such uncommon or abundant sources for sup- 

 plying animal matter, every farmer may considerably increase his stock 

 of putrescent manure by using the preservative power of marl ; and all 

 the substances that might be so saved are not only now lost to the land, 

 but serve to contaminate the air while putrefying, and perhaps to engender 

 diseases. The last consideration is of most importance to towns, though 

 worthy of attention every where. Whoever will make the trial will be 

 surprised to find how much putrescent matter may be collected from the 

 dwelling-house, kitchen, and laundry of a family; and which if accumu- 

 lated (without mixture with calcareous earth,) will soon become so offen- 

 sive as to prove the necessity of putting an end to the practice. Yet it 

 must be admitted that when all such matters are scattered about, (as is 

 usual both in town and country,) over an extended surface, the same putre- 

 faction must ensue, and the same noxious effluvia be evolved, though not 

 enough concentrated to be very offensive, or even always perceptible^ 

 The same amount is inhaled — but in a very diluted state, and in small 

 though incessantly repeated doses. But if mild calcareous earth in any 

 form (and fossil shells or marl present much the cheapest) is used to cover 

 and mix with the putrescent matters so collected, they will be prevented 

 from discharging oiTensive effluvia, and preserved to enrich the soil. A 

 malignant and ever acting enemy will be converted to a friend and bene- 

 factor. 



The' usual dispersion and waste of such putrescent and excrementitious 

 matters about a farm house, though a considerable loss to agriculture, may 

 take place without being very offensive to the senses, or . manifestly in- 

 jurious to health. But the case is widely different in towns. There, unless 

 great care is continually used to remove or destroy filth of every kind, it 

 soon becomes offensive, if not pestilential. During the summer of 1832, 

 when that most horrible scourge of the human race, the Asiatic cholera, 

 was desolating some of the towns of the United States, and all expected to 

 be visited by its fatal ravages, great and unusual exertions were every 

 where used to remove and prevent the accumulation of filth, which, if 

 allowed to remain, it was supposed would invite the approach, and aid the 

 effects of the pestilence. The efforts made for that purpose served to show 



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