MANURE. 169 



dust, small chips, shavings, or tanner *s spent bark, they 

 become quite equal to peat charcoal. 



Whatever substance is chosen, after it has been charred, it 

 should easily fall to powder. If a too clayey loam is used, 

 it forms lumps in the charring process. 



The process of forming poudrette thus becomes inoffensive 

 and simple, and the materials being collected, they are to be 

 mixed, as follows, in a pit sunk for the purpose. To every 

 load of night-soil, add an equal bulk of the charred mate- 

 rial, mixing evenly the two, by rakes and stirrers, like a 

 mason's mortar mixing tool. 



The liquids are absorbed, it becomes a stiff mass, which is 

 to be heaped up, and the watery portion allowed to drain 

 out. If the centre of the pit is raised, of course the fluid 

 collects round the edges, and this is to be again mixed with 

 the charred matter, till the moisture is absorbed. The 

 whole mass is now to be air-dried under sheds. 



When pretty dry, add again its volume of night-soil, and 

 so repeat as long as the night-soil is deodorized, or till the 

 charcoal matter is only about one-fourth the whole mixture. 



The whole may be finished in five or six weeks. It is a 

 dry powder, which may be carried about in a snuff-box, with 

 as little offence as the pulverized weed ; and, when recently 

 prepared, has been actually handed round on a china plate, 

 at an evening party of sensitive, and very sensible ladies and 

 gentlemen, without their suspecting the origin of the new 

 article of commerce submitted to their inspection and criti- 

 cism. 



From the variety of materials which may be used, no one 

 whose enterprise and interest impel him to collect night-soil, 

 can say that he has not, or may not have the material for 

 charring. He may object to the process as too expensive 

 for an individual like himself to undertake such a matter. 

 8 



