PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 343 



Human nrine prepared thus forms at least a quarter of all the enrichers 

 used in China, and is not phiced upon the ground until it has reached a 

 very high state of putridity. That an article of such high consideration in 

 China, should be so neglected even where agriculture has reached so great 

 a state of perfection as in some parts of our country, is truly wonderful. 

 The quantity of urine voided each day by a moderately sized individual, is 

 half a gallon, and this with proper attention is sufficient for full half a rood 

 of ground, which it will cause in a short time to assume a rich dark green, 

 as it is highly conducive to the luxuriance of plants. The urine voided by 

 a cow fed upon turnips, would be about a gallon for every thirteen pounds; 

 if fed one hundred and thirty pounds of brewers' grains she would make 

 forty-six pounds of dung, and a large quantity of urine. The calculation 

 in Scotland is, that the urine of six cows will enrich a sufficient quantity 

 of earth to top dress an acre of grass land. 



Throughout a large portion of the plains of Tuscany, the manure used is 

 principally procured from night soil, which is placed in enormous cisterns, 

 and there steeped for four months in four times its quantity of water. Into 

 this cistern all the putrescent matters they can obtain are thrown, and the 

 liquid is found to possess admirable enriching properties, but is principally 

 used for gardens, which are irrigated with it twice in each month; and it 

 is said to be particularly advantageous to the growth of onions, which I 

 have seen there the size of my hat. They possess a delicious flavor, not in 

 the least affected by the manure, but when informed how they were raised 

 I was foolish enough to refuse to eat them. 



In Sweden the urine is collected from the farm buildings and thrown over 

 the compost heaps until they become liquefied. The contents of privies are 

 regularly purchased by scavengers in all the large towns, and often carried 

 as far as fifty miles from Stockholm, and there diluted with water five times 

 its bulk, and placed principally upon meadow land, where it is supposed to 

 produce a good effect for five years. 



In Switzerland it is called mistwasser, and is sprinkled over meadows by 

 means of large hogsheads with perforated bottoms, immediately after each 

 cutting, which causes the grass to spring with amazing vigor, as the fetid 

 solution is essentially serviceable in that climate and renders it luxuriant 

 and intensely green. A farmer there tried the following experiment; he 

 drained a natural pond on his place and lined it with cement to prevent the 

 water from escaping, he then laid drains into it from his stables, barns, 

 privies and dwelling, which soon caused the water to become exceedingly 

 putrid. A water cart was then used, with a tin tube bored with small 

 holes arranged behind it, somewhat similar to a New York water cart, and 

 twenty-two carts full of liquid were placed per acre on a contiguous 

 meadow early in May, and after cutting the crop in July, and the effect 

 was surprising, not only on the crop, but the aftermath likewise. There is 

 no doubt but that it applies admirably to grass. 



All urine possesses the essential elements of vegetable productions in 

 solution. By a careful analysis human urine in its fresh state contains the 

 following substances : 



