THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR FARM. 139 



the pestilent effluvia that met one's nasal organ, why 

 now the most delicate lady might stand by, and admire 

 their sleeping highnesses, without the least offence 

 whatever, — this desirable result being due to the de- 

 odorising quality of the charcoal-dust pervading it, and 

 which came of the thorn-stubs that I mentioned above 

 as built in for fuel, to start and help the fire. You 

 may really stand, now, right in the centre of the sties, 

 and be as unaware of the vicinity of an animal whose 

 only fault is his smell, as though you were in your 

 " parlour, counting out your money." 



I shall take the hint, and, for the future, use plenti- 

 fully an agent so easily obtained, the value of which 

 is so great, as I see by a little work on "Antiseptic 

 Treatment," which I had recently forwarded to me, 

 bearing on this very subject. A few remarks there- 

 from, w^hich interested and taught me, I quote, in the 

 hope that they may be equally serviceable to others : 

 " Farmers should never deeply cover up manure, so that 

 the air cannot freely unite with it ; for if the air have 

 not a free circulation within the manure, it perishes, 

 and produces more injury than advantage." "Farmers 

 should always mix burned earth, peat, or charcoal with 

 their stable manure, as charcoal retains the essential 

 properties contained therein, and prevents its escape 

 until it is ready to be put on the land, when the sun 

 will liberate it." " Charcoal put into a tank will purify 

 the water." " Farmers who raise stock should mix 

 charcoal plentifully with their food." '' Charcoal 

 strengthens and heals the mucous membrane through- 

 out the alimentary canal, and increases the power of 

 the digestive organs, healing any unhealthy condition 

 existing there : it prevents worms generating in the 



