136 * NIGIJT SOIL. 



yards, — is too often allowed to be wasted, and, 

 in too many cases, is felt to be a nuisance in- 

 stead of being regarded as a most prolific fer- 

 tilizer. 



In the chapter on Urine we shall enter fully 

 into its value as a manure. And as this liquid 

 manure is composed principally of urine, 

 largely diluted with water, and impregnated 

 with other saline matters, which the rain has 

 washed from decaying vegetables, we trust 

 that its benefits wuU then be at once recognised. 



Every farm-yard, every stable, every shed 

 where cattle are kept, ought to be so arranged, 

 as for the running of each to be preserved. 



The liquid manure, thus obtained, should 

 either be carried away and spread over the 

 fields ; or, better still, it may be allowed to be- 

 come putrid, and then mixed in the compost 

 heap to serve in the formation of nitre, (p. 83.) 



In any case it ought not to be wasted. Its 

 value as a fertilizer cannot be overrated ; and 

 it is hoped that England will soon follow the 

 example of her continental neighbours in the 

 use of this manure. 



ISight Soil. — The value of night soil as a 

 manure, principally depends upon the pre- 

 sence of ammonia ; and this ammonia is almost 

 entirely derived from the urine with which 

 night soil is always mixed. 



Berzelius, in his analysis of the solid excre- 

 ment, gives the proportion of nitrogen as vary- 

 ing from 1| to 5 per cent., and about 15 per 

 cent, of ashes, principally composed of the 

 phosphate of lime and magnesia. In all cases, 

 however^ night soils is richer in nitrogen than 

 the excrement of any other animals. 



