172 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



much of its fertilising properties. The manurial 

 value of combined urine and solids in sewage has 

 been estimated by Lawes and Gilbert at 6s. 8d. per 

 individual per annum, but when by dilution it is 

 increased to twenty-four gallons daily, its money 

 value is reduced to about 2d. per ton. 



That a given weight of urine is, generally speak- 

 ing, of higher value as a fertiliser than the same 

 quantity of solid excrements, has been mentioned 

 when speaking of farmyard manure. 



But it is to the urea and hippuric acid, crystallised 

 bodies which exist in urine in the proportion of 

 about one-third of that contained in the food of 

 animals, that its immediate and most marked effect 

 in promoting vegetation is chiefly to be ascribed. 



These substances are nearly allied in their chemi- 

 cal nature and fertilising properties to the salts of 

 ammonia. 



Mr. Herbert J. Little, of Thorpelands, North- 

 ampton, in a report on Sewage-farming, in the 



Fig. 11. — Experiment with Buckwheat and Oats Grown in Pcke Sand, and Supplied with dieffeeI'T 



Fertilising Ingredients. 



The following table gives the analysis of the 

 daily excretions of a male adult : — 





Fresh 

 Excre- 

 ments. 



Dry 

 Sub- 

 stance. 



Mineral 

 Matter. 



Carbon. 



Nitro- 

 gen. 



Phos- 

 phates. 





oz. 



oz. 



oz. 



oz. 



oz. 



oz. 



Faeces 



4-17 



1041 



0-156 



0-443 



0-053 



0-038 



Urine 



46-0] 



1-735 



0-527 



0-539 



0-478 



0-189 



Total 



50-18 



2776 



0-683 



0-982 



0-531 



0-257 



These figures show that urine consists of certain 

 organic compounds rich in nitrogen, mineral matter, 

 and phosphates, dissolved in a large quantity of 

 water — 46 oz. of fresh urine yielding but 1-735 oz. 

 of dry matter. 



Journal of the Eoyal Agricultural Society for 1371, 

 says . " When once the benefits of sewage are fully 

 recognised, and the quick growth, early maturity, 

 and superior quality of vegetables cultivated by its 

 aid established, there should be no difficulty in the 

 disposal of a portion of arable farms for this purpose, 

 and, perhaps, no more satisfactory course could be 

 followed. 



"Onions, Lettuces of prodigious weight and splendid 

 quality. Asparagus of great size, Celery of the finest 

 growth, Water-cresses, Spinach, Cucumbers, Vege- 

 table Marrows, French Beans, Broccoli, and Cauli- 

 flowers — these are but a few of the ordinary sewage- 

 grown vegetables ; whilst among fruits, Strawberries, 

 Gooseberries and Currants all seem coming into favour. 

 Strawberries at Barking have realised £75 per acre. 



