MANURES. 



117 



that we reap not as we sow, but as we manure for our farms ; and there- 

 fore the excrements of every person and animal should he utilised and 

 applied to the soil, not only from large towns, hut from every farm- 

 steading, house, and cottage in the land. Before we send to other 

 countries for manures at a great expense namely, guano we should 

 first use up and apply all the available manure we have in our own 

 country. I conceive it might be possible to have it altered into such 

 a form as would make it easily conveyed to farmers any distance, and 

 yet contain all its fertilising qualities. This may be done, 



1st, By collecting all the sewerage, liquid and solid, into one or more 

 large tanks. 



2d, By causing the water or liquid portion of the sewerage to decom- 

 pose in such a manner, or by applying some chemical processes to it, as 

 will separate all the weak watery substance from it, leaving only the 

 fertilising matter in a liquid state. 



3d, Or by mixing the sewerage with substances which will absorb 

 all the liquid portions of the manure, and by mixing this also with the 

 solid parts, to have it then made into cake or powder, to be then 

 conveyed to any part of the country. 



For the proper collecting and keeping of liquid manures from a farm- 

 steading, a large tank should be formed at a little lower level than the 

 dungyard, so as to catch all the liquid likely to come from all the build- 

 ings and yards. All the buildings should be spouted, to throw the water 

 away from the manure. The tank should be built in the earth, of stone 

 or brick, and should be well puddled with clay behind the walls, to pre- 

 vent any escape of the liquid ; or if the lime- 

 mortar is mixed with a small quantity of 

 cement, it will answer the purpose as well. The 

 tank should be closely covered over. It is a 

 good plan to arch them over with brick or 

 stone, leaving an opening to admit of its being 

 cleaned out from time to time. This opening 

 should receive a close-fitting doorway. The 

 liquid from the different yards and buildings 

 should be conveyed in drains, with gratings to 

 admit of the liquid entering the drains. The 

 tank should be large enough to hold two or 

 three months' liquid. If the liquid is very 

 strong, it should be mixed with a proportion of 

 water, and never applied in hot sunny weather. 

 In removing the liquid from the tank, it should 

 be raised into a liquid-manure cart (see fig. 9) by a pump, such as fig. 8. 



