686 TjiA^SACTIOXS OF THE AMERICAN IxSTITl'TE. 



might be supposed that much ammonia would be lost during the 

 various stages of preparation, but nothing ox the kind is evident, and 

 the statement of the manufacturerr. that no appreciable loss occurs is 

 borne out by the rayud evolution of ammonia from simply mixing a 

 handful of it with a little quick-lime. The retention of ammonia in 

 the niglit-soil ma}^ be ascri'';}ed to the disinfecting treatment by 

 carbolic acid which the latter receives before being transported to the 

 works, and which chemically fixes the ammonia. When the 

 pondrette is mixed M'ith the otfal in the preparation of the double- 

 refined product it is very dry and absorbing the ammonia from the 

 oft'al retains it, just as dry earth is known to do in the so-called earth- 

 closet, or as dry peat dees when mixed with rapidly decaying 

 constituents of a rich compost heap. At the time of our A-isit the 

 laborers were carting and depositing the fresh material in one end of 

 the storehouse, while the other end was occupied by an immense 

 heap, said to contain 11,000 barrels, ready for barreling and shipment. 

 The shipments at this season of the year amount to from 2,500 to 

 3,000 barrels per week, exclusive of cargoes in bulk. The greatest 

 sales are made in New Jersey, the State where it is made, and its 

 uses are best known. The demand is also xevy large from New 

 York, Connecticut, and North Carolina, while other States require it 

 in greater or less quantities ; a considerable trade being of late 

 developed in the southern States, including those bordering on the 

 gulf. 



From the foregoing sketch it will be seen that there are two kinds 

 of pondrette, one which mayifee termed the common or cheap variety 

 consisting simply of the second grade of the product made of the ^yj 

 night-soil; the otlier, or double refined, composed of the first grade 

 of such product, combined and prepared with animal oft'al, which, 

 from its highly organized and nitrogenous nature, is one of the very 

 best enriching materials known. The former is more bulkyj and is 

 therefore best fitted for use where the cost of transportation is moder- 

 ate ; but in those cases where it is to be carried for long distances, 

 the double refined, or concentrated fertilizer, will be found much pre- 

 ferable. It costs only about twenty per cent more than the other, 

 and considering the difi'erence in the method and manner of manufac- 

 ture, there is no doubt that this comi)aratively slight increase in cost 

 is more than made up by the additional strength and activity of the 

 manure. Let us now turn to another department of the fertilizer 

 manufacture, and consider the fabrication of 



