,190 Value of Earth-Closet Manure. 
last time by fire-heat, it scarcely contained more nitrogen than the 
preceding sample, and somewhat less phosphate of lime and 
potash. In the former sample it will be seen I found 14'57 per 
cent, of oxide of iron and alumina, and 62"] 2 per cent, of in- 
soluble siliceous matter (clay), whilst the analysis of the second 
sample shows only 9*2i per cent of oxide of iron and alumina, 
and 55'90 per cent, of mixed siliceous matter. It appears, there- 
fore, that the earth of the two samples was not precisely the 
same, and hence the analyses of the two samples do not admit of 
strict comparison. Nevertheless, they afford plain evidence of 
the fact, that the proportion of nitrogen in the earth-closet 
manure is but inconsiderable, even when the earth has been used 
repeatedly in the closet. 
Both samples, I may observe, were free from nitrates ; and 
the nitrogen which is stated in the analysis includes both the 
nitrogen present in the nitrogenous organic matters and in the 
ammonia-salts of the earth-closet manure. I had no opportunity 
of ascertaining what was the composition of the dried and sifted 
earth before its employment in the closet, and cannot, therefore, 
say definitely how much nitrogen or phosphoric acid and potash 
it originally contained, and to what extent its original fer- 
tilizing matters were increased by repeated use. 
The results of the preceding analyses, it must be confessed, are 
disappointing in an agricultural point of view ; and although not 
quite conclusive, they hold out but little prospect for the pro- 
duction of a lairly concentrated manure by means of the repeated 
use of earth in the dry closet. As a disinfecting agent, earth 
answers so admirably that I was loth to arrive at too unfavour- 
able an opinion as regards the agricultural value of the earth- 
closet manure ; and 1 therefore thought it well to institute 
further inquiries before expressing a definite opinion of the pro- 
bable value of this kind of manure. 
Some of the readers of the journal are perhaps aware that the 
dry-earth system has been in f)peration ibr some years past in 
the West Riding prison, Wakefield, with marked success. Capt. 
Armytage, the governor of the prison, who has paid much 
attention to practically carrying out this system, hasi kindly 
furnished me with information on some points of interest bearing 
upon the subject. The prison, he informs me, contained in 
1870, on an average 1451 cells. As many as 77fi dry-earth 
closets are in use in the cells and workrooms, anil are highly 
approved. Besides the earth-closets there are h75 water-closets. 
Moule's system was introduced in Midsummer, 18GG, and has 
been continued in use without interruption. 
Capt. Armytage writes to me: " We use the ordinary Moule's 
closet, or a still simpler box, where the earth is applied out 
