SOS 



JOURNAL OF HOltTIClTLTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ April 18, 1865. 



more complete if Mr. Thompson had desca:ibed the " tumbler 

 flushing apparatus" he mentions. 



We Lave had an " eai'th closet" in use here for some 

 years, though till lately the contumely and prejudice one 

 has had to contend against compelled me to attend to the 

 earthing-over-and-disinfeoting-process chiefly myself. I 

 send you an outline descriptive of the structure as being 

 what I consider a model to go upon, a proof that I most 

 cordially agree in the justice of nearly the whole of Mr. 

 AVilmot's remai-ks, and it cannot be repeated too often, that 

 facal matter exposed to air or water, gives off noxious and 

 poisonous gases, which disturb the functions of the digestive 

 and respiratory organs, and predispose to disease. Cottagers 

 are not sufficiently well off to purchase disinfectants, and 



even if they oould, it is generally doubtful whether these 

 «ompoimds do not lessen the value of the natural manures ; 

 but simple dry earth, or burnt ashes, can be readily ob- 

 tained for nothing, and they effectually fix the offensive 

 and poisonous gases, preventing putrel'active fermentation, 

 and absorbing the fertilising elements. Thus, so long as 

 the compost is kept dry the original cxuality of the manure 

 is maintained ; but when it is applied to the land the am- 

 moniacal products are set at liberty, in consequence of the 

 rain, or the moisture of the ground, causing fermentation, 

 and being then in a soluble state they are available as food 

 for plants, which could not have availed themselves of the 

 manure whilst dry. It must be dissolved in water, and it is 

 far better to apply it to the roots of plants than to con- 



Scale, a quarter of an inch to a foot. 



1, The place, measuring 12 feet in Icnglh and 6 feet 6 Inches in breadth, 



partitioned into two. 



2, "WutertiBht earth iind fieces-pit, G feet deep and 4 feet G inchee bro:id. 



3, The irop-door in the liooi ot the lower compiiriment, 3 feet by 2 feet 



inchee. and tht drop-rtntf by which it in raised. 



4, Comp"nt-pit. where the earth from the (ajccB-pit Is mixed once a-ycar 



with other matters. 

 5f The tub which catches the water from the roof, and it is uleo made to 

 act ue a sout and lime-wutcr barrel. 



G, Steps ascending to the lower compartment from the back yard. 



7, The north end and east bide (blank walls) of the place aro occupied with 



Morello Cherriep. 



8, Door entering the higher compartment from the garden terrace. 



9, Ground-level in yard. 



10, Ground-level of garden terrace. 



A walk branches from the terrace to the doorway, 8 ; and nearly parallel 

 with this is a stone wall separating the yard from the terrace. Beyond 

 this wall an evergreen shrubbery forms an ctTcctual screen. 



taminate the air, or pollute the stream, and so force it 

 through the lungs and into the stomachs of human beings. 

 It is, perhaps, no exaggeration to say that mori^ injury to 

 health is inflicted on the ht.mliler classes, and, in fact, 

 mankind in general, through neglect of the aVxive most 

 necessary precautions, than by any other evil that can be 

 mentioned. All agree that " something ought to be done," 

 but it is of no use finding fault with everybody else for not 

 doing it. The best plnu for persons who can see and feel 

 the necessity for action, is to set an example themselves. 

 Ignorance or apathy must give way before such a public 

 example. 



In the hottest days of summer I scrape from the surface 

 of the garden some wheelbarrow-loads of duety soil, pass it 

 through a sieve with a (juartcr of an inch mesh to exclude 

 the stones, and store it in a disused corn-bin in the stable. 

 An old chamber-pail, with aBtnall hand-coal-scoop, is placed 

 in the lower division of the place, and it ia kept rcfjlenished 

 with the dry earth ready for distribution. 



As we bake at homo in a wood oven, a large dredging- 

 box containing wood ashes finds a constant station in tho 

 window-sill of tho ujjper compartment, or McDougall's dis- 

 infecting powder is made to answer tho purpose when the 

 ash is in great request for the garden, or " running ley" for 

 washing. I am no friend to cinders, they are cold hungry 

 things in garden ground, but as we burn a quantity of 

 wood in tho grates, I have tho more ash from them sifted, 

 and keep it perfectly dry in a lean-to shed. This dredged 

 amongst growing crops in a dripping time when slugs are 

 troublesome, or when seeds aro germinating, is of great 

 benefit. Occasionally the trap door in tho lower compart- 

 ment is lifted off and half a barrow-load or so administered 

 over the entire surface below. It was only the other day 

 that I caught my man applying water to the cinders before 

 sifting them. I knew it was labour in vain forme to explain 

 my chemical reasons for wishing him to act otherwise, so I 

 solved thedifliculty, by telling him I would hiivo tho powder 

 kept dry. Clay would prove the best of all deodorisers, to 



