590 Hhits for the Improvement 



cliurcliyarcl of St. Mary's. This burying-ground, which is the 

 largest in Southampton, so long as it continues to be buried in, 

 cannot fail both to contaminate the air of the locality and the 

 wells of the vicinity. The consequence of the defeat of the 

 bill alluded to is, that the council have been compelled either to 

 do without a cemetery, or to fix upon a spot by no means so 

 eligible for the purpose to which it is to be applied, as could 

 be wished ; it is, however, nearer town. 



The alternate System of Burying. — In our design for this 

 cemetery, we introduced a new principle, viz. that of providing 

 in perpetuity for the superfluous earth dug out of the graves. 

 Thus, suppose four coffins deposited in one grave, either at once 

 or at different times, it is obvious that there must be a quantity 

 of superfluous soil equal to the space occupied by the coffins ; 

 and somewhat more, from the soil taken out being broken into 

 small pieces, and thus taking up more space than it did when it 

 was in one mass. In country churchyards, where seldom more 

 than one coffin is deposited in a grave, very little inconvenience 

 arises from the earth that cannot be returned to the excavation, 

 it being generally raised over the grave in the form of a mound ; 

 but in cemeteries got up on speculation, where, in order to 

 make the most of the ground, a dozen coffins or more are some- 

 times deposited in the same grave, and where there are also 

 many brick graves and vaults, the quantity of superfluous earth 

 is enormous, as may be seen by the immense heap which has 

 accumulated in the course of seven years in the Kensal Green 

 Cemetery, and which the directors are now advertising to be 

 given away ; because, being consecrated soil, it cannot be sold. 

 The principle Avhich we have introduced into the cemetery at 

 Southampton is, to divide the ground to be buried in into 

 regular spaces ; say into beds 16 ft. wide, with paths 4 ft. wide. 

 Only every alternate bed is to be buried in at first, till that bed 

 is completely full ; and a calculation having been made of the 

 quantity of superfluous earth that will be produced, the bed not 

 to be buried in is to be excavated to such a depth (say from 

 18 in. to 3 ft., according to the number of coffins it is calculated 

 will be placed in a grave) as will contain all the superfluous soil, 

 without being raised more than a few inches above the general 

 surface. The soil thrown out is to be laid on the surface of the 

 bed that is to be buried in ; and the intervening paths, the sur- 

 rounding borders, and, in short, the whole surface of the ceme- 

 tery, is to be adjusted in conformity with this arrangement. 

 When the bed or compartment to be buried in is completely 

 filled, then begin to bury in the adjoining bed or compartment 

 in which the superfluous soil was put, and place the superfluous 

 soil from this bed on the surface of that which has just been 

 filled with coffins. It will raise this surface by the time the 



