 Fuly 1, 1886] 
NATURE 
1Q9 
by the city of Berlin on the Continent. The sewage farms 
at Berlin have successfully dealt with the sewage of 387,500 
people—nearly twice the population of Birmingham— 
whilst London is still allowing to run to waste an enormous 
amount of valuable material, at the same time polluting a 
river—the highway of its commerce—to an extent never 
previously dreamt of. 
Processes of precipitating sewage by chemicals are now 
known to exert only a partially purifying influence. The 
best process yet discovered can do little more than free 
the sewage from its suspended matters, allowing all the 
dissolved constituents of sewage—by far the most valuable 
portion agriculturally and chemically—to pass away in the 
effluent. Lime dissolved as lime water, sulphate of 
alumina, and perhaps proto-sulphate of iron, taken to- 
gether and added to the sewage in the proportion of not 
more than Io to 15 grains to the gallon, are the best, most 
economical, and most effective precipitants. Other more 
valuable substances, alded to the sewage with the view of 
increasing the value of the precipitated sludge or manure, 
are in large proportion lost in the effluent water, and as 
they do not assist precipitation might just as well be 
added to the sludge afterwards, if fortification is required. 
Half-a-crown and no more is the value per ton of the 
precipitated solids of sewage. This value will generally 
pay for the cost of their carriage a mile orso in agricultural 
districts, but no further. 
A great improvement in dealing with the semi-liquid 
sewage sludge has been lately effected. The sludge 
containing over go per cent. of water was formerly allowed 
to dry in theair orina drying chamber, anda most intoler- 
able nuisance resulted. It is now possible by means of 
hydraulic filter-presses to convert the semi-liquid sludge 
into solid cakes containing 40 to 50 per cent. of water, and 
in this form it is innocuous to the senses, and can be 
readily conveyed away by cartage. 
The knowledge already acquired d:mands that now, and 
in the future, the sewage of towns should, whenever 
possible, be utilised on land in the production of crops or 
dairy produce; failing this, the sewage should be freed 
from its solids by precipitation, and subsequently purified 
on land laid out as filter-beds, efficient purification, and not 
the production of crops, being alone aimed at. If applica- 
tion to land is impossible, then precipitating processesalone 
must be relied on, and where the sewage can be turned 
into the sea, and effectually got rid of without nuisance, 
there it may be allowable to waste valuable matter which 
cannot be utilised except at a cost destructive of all 
profits from its utilisation. 
SALE OF THE FARDINE ORNITHOLOGICAL 
COLLECTION 
eS dispersal of an ornithological collection so large, 
and of such historic interest, as that formed by the 
late Sir William Jardine, F.R.S., is an event deserving 
of notice. The collection was begun more than sixty 
years since, and was the occupation of half a century’s 
diligent care. From its contents were described, and 
often figured, a majority of the species treated of in the 
late baronet’s many works, ranging from the “ Illustra- 
tions of Ornithology,” commenced in 1825, to papers in 
journals of comparatively recent date, and it included a 
greater number of “type-specimens ” than any other that 
has ever been brought to the hammer. 
On Sir William’s death in November 1874, it was 
understood that the collection would be speedily sold, 
and a strong hope was entertained by ornithologists that 
it should pass, as a whole, into one or other of the great 
museums of this country. However, this was not to be. 
The comparatively small “British” portion was, after a 
time, purchased by the Museum of Science and Art in 
Edinburgh, a very fitting destination for it; but the 
rest, consisting of between 8090 and gooo specimens, 
remained in the hands of Sir William’s heir. At last 
that gentleman determined to dispose of it by auction, 
and for that purpose selected Messrs. Puttick and 
Simpson, the well-known firm of Leicester Square, by 
whom it was accordingly sold on Thursday, June 17 
last. However, the attendance at the sale was but 
small, and except in a very few instances, the prices 
obtained were below the average often reached 
at sales of collections in every way inferior in interest, 
while not one of the lots attained a price that may be 
called high. There was a certain competition among a 
few experts, but even this was not carried to any excess, 
and as arule the prizes of the collection were knocked 
down for very small sums. It is a satisfaction to read, 
however, that most of the “ type specimens” were secured 
for the British Museum or for that of the University of 
Cambridge ; but few, it is believed, falling into the hands 
of dealers, and hardly any, as was to be greatly feared, 
into those of the “ plume-trade.” The low prices realised 
were due, no doubt, to the fact that notice of the sale had 
reached few amateur collectors in time, and added to this 
was the fact, obvious on inspection, that the sale cata- 
logue supplied very little of the information which col- 
lectors require. It was the general impression in the 
auction-room at the time, and has since been confirmed 
by the opinion of practical ornithologists, that had the cata- 
logue set forth the special quality of the specimens, and the 
sale been made known more widely, a very different result 
would have followed, and something like the competition 
which attended the great sale of Mr. Bullock’s museum 
in 1819 might have been attained, for collectors are as 
keen now as ever, and such a chance as this is not likely 
to occur again to the present generation. The long 
period, too, which has elapsed since Sir William Jardine’s 
death (recorded in NATURE, vol. xi. p. 74) possibly helped 
also to divest the sale of his collection from a good deil 
of the interest which it would have inspired had its dis- 
persal taken place soon after his decease, for memories 
are short in these days. The agent of the British Museum 
has to be congratulated for his prom.ptness in recognising 
and securing at a nominal price for that institution one 
“type-specimen” (that of Bulwer’s petrel), which, not 
being mentioned in the catalogue nor occurring in its ex- 
pected place among the other specimens of its family, had 
escaped the notice of all the other ornithologists who had 
viewed the collection. 
NOTES 
Amonc the Colonials on whom honours have been conferred 
are Dr. Julius Von Haat, F.R.S., who has bezn made 
K.C.M.G., and Dr. A. R. C. Selwyn, who has been made 
C.M.G. ; Dr. G. Watt, of the Indian Department of Revenue 
and Agriculture has been made a C.I.E. 
Pror. PAuL WAGNER, on behalf of the Comité Salitero, 
sends us the following statement as to the result of the nitrate 
of soda competition. Carrying out the scheme of prizes offered 
by the Committee of the Saltpetre Producers’ Association 
(Comité Salitero at Iquique, Chili) for the be t popular essay 
treating of the importance of nitrate of soda as a manure, and 
the best mode of its application, the judges—Prof. L. Grandeau, 
Nancy (France) ; Prof. Adolf. Mayer, Wageningen (Holland) ; 
Prof, A. Petermann, Gembloux (Belgium); Prof. G. Thoms, 
Riga (Russia); Prof. Paul Wagner, Darmstalt (Germany) ; 
Mr. R. Warington, Rothamsted (Englaad) —have examined the 
essays sent in, namely, thirteen German, thirteen English, and 
four French, and have made the following awards :—(1) To the 
essay with the motto, ‘‘ Grau, theurer Freund, is alle Theorie,” 
a partial prize of 350/. (7000 marks) ; (2) to the essay with the 
motto, ‘‘ Pour pratiquer l’agriculture. . . . ” a partial prize of 
150/. (3000 marks). On opening the accompanying envelopes, 
the author of the first essay was found to be Dr, A. Stutzer. 
