270 ANIMAL MATTER FIXED BY CALCAREOUS. 



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, proved the 

 propriety of extending a similar practice. In the neighbourhood 

 of towns, or wherever else the carcasses of animals, or any other 

 animal substances 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. It is said that on the borders of the 

 Chowan, herrings are often used as manure, when purchasers can- 

 not take off the quantities 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 whatever 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 increase prodigiously both the amount 

 and permanency of their acting animal manure, besides obtaining 

 the benefit of the calcareous earth mixed with it.* 



But without regarding such uncommon or abundant sources for 

 supplying 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 putre- 

 fying, and perhaps to engender disease. 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 accumulated 

 (without mixture with calcareous earth), would soon become so 

 offensive as to show 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 putrefaction must ensue, and the same noxious 

 eifluvia be evolved, though not enough concentrated to be very 

 offensive, or even always perceptible. The same amount is in- 



* I have since heard that this mode of manuring, but with the garbage 

 of the herrings, is a general and very extensive practice on the borders of 

 Albemarle Sound. By the enormous seines there used, herrings are taken 

 in numbers that seem scarcely credible ; and all the fish are trimmed and 

 salted at the fisheries. This great and regular supply of garbage used as 

 manure, is of great value, even with all the usual waste in the air ; but 

 would be of ten-fold value if treated as recommended above. . 



