NIGHT SOIL. 13? 



That the use of this manure must be benefi- 

 cial there can be, and is no doubt; but it is 

 equally true, that in the way in which it is 

 generally prepared, one-half or more of its 

 valuable contents is lost : but even with all this 

 loss, as it still is a very powerful manure, par- 

 ties are generally satisfied with the result ; 

 although, properly treated, its fertilizing 

 power might be increased five or six times. 



The addition of lime, under any circum- 

 stances, is very prejudicial, as the ammonia is 

 by this means at once liberated, the carbonic 

 acid of the ammonia at once combining with 

 the lime, and setting free the ammonia in a 

 volatile state. 



The beneficial results arising from soil so 

 prepared, are attributed entirely to the phos- 

 phates which they still contain ; for all the 

 ammonaical salts have been decomposed, and 

 their ammonia expelled. 



It is suggested, in the absence of any other 

 information on the subject, that the best means 

 of preparing the night soil without loss, would 

 be to mix the mass, after it has been removed 

 to some convenient spot, and allowed to putrefy, 

 with the strongest sulphuric acid, until all 

 effervescence, consequent on such mixture, had 

 ceased. It may then be either left to dry of its 

 own accord, or it may be mixed with good 

 mould as free from lime as possible, or charcoal, 

 and in this state freely exposed to the currents 

 of air to dry it. But it should be protected 

 from rain by a roof of some kind or other, as 

 the moisture is doubly injurious, not only in 

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