360 On the Application of Seivage to the Soil. [July, 



disease ; will provide for the conveyance of the right thing to the 

 right place — will reclaim whole tracts of sand, on which nothing 

 now thrives but broom and rushes, into rich and fruitful meadows ; 

 and will set an example that is sure to be followed by other large 

 communities. 



From the circular which we have received, it would appear that 

 the promoters of the scheme (and it is already a company incorpo- 

 rated by Act of Parliament) intend to proceed cautiously. At first 

 they mean to collect the sewage, which will become richer and richer 

 every year, in consequence of the changes taking place in the system 

 of defecation at Liverpool, and having first raised it by steam power 

 just outside of the town, to convey it through a system of pipes into 

 the townships of Bootle, Linacre, Litherland, Orrell, Great Crosby, 

 Little Crosby, Ince Blundell, and Altcar, comprising an area of 

 between 18,000 and 20,000 acres, to which the sewage may be 

 profitably applied. 



" The engineers of the company estimate the cost of delivering 

 300,000 gallons of sewage daily as far as Little Crosby, and placing 

 it within the reach of the farmers of about 5,000 acres, at about 

 12,000/. If, however, it was deemed advisable to supply the entire 

 area comprised in the above-named townships, the quantity re- 

 quired would be on the average one million gallons per diem, the 

 cost of which would be about 28,000Z." "If a branch pipe were 

 carried up towards Maghull, the cost would be increased to 36,000£, 

 and the area would be about 26,000 acres. These would comprise 

 the whole of the engineering expenses, but it will be for the sub- 

 scribers to the company to determine the extent to which the under- 

 taking should be carried at its commencement. 



" In the township of Little Crosby, about 2,000 acres of land 

 belong to Major Blundell, who is favourable to the scheme, and has 

 offered to place at the disposal of the company a considerable area 

 intersected by the Liverpool and Southport Bailway, on which 

 sewage may be used in order to show the effects produced by its 

 application. The works are designed so as to supply the farmers in 

 the district with such quantities as they may require." 



The chief promoters of the gigantic undertaking are Lord Kobert 

 Montague, Mr. Bateman, C.E., Serjeant Wheeler, LL.D., E. K. 

 Muspratt, Esq., the Borough Engineer, the Water Engineer of 

 Liverpool; the corporation aids the scheme by supplying the 

 sewage, appoints two of its members as Directors of the Company, 

 and, we believe, will participate in the profits when they attain a 

 certain sum. 



But it is not on account of any anticipated commercial advan- 

 tages which may accrue that we recommend the public to encourage 

 this great movement (and we refer of course not to one particular 

 scheme, but to the National undertaking). Ever since this Periodical 



