Value of Earth- Closet Manure. 
191 
of a small scoop by hand, instead of the self-acting machinery of 
Moule's closets, which, with ordinary care, acts very well. You 
must be aware what class of men and women we have to deal 
with in working out experiments ; and 1 can only say that, after 
more than three years, I am satisfied that the dry-earth plan 
is the only sound system that can be worked out, especially 
among the lower classes and in towns, my principle being to 
keep all sediments out of the drains. The urine now is collected 
into tanks, and is sold, or used for manuring the ground, or 
is thrown upon the earth compost. We find an absence of all 
smells, that formerly were quite overpowering ; and even in the 
manipulating shed no smell can be discerned, except at the time 
of turning the compost, and then the smell perceptible in the 
shed is more that of a Peruvian guano shed than anything 
else." 
The earth used in the closet is common soil, containing a good 
proportion of clav. It is dried and passed through a half-inch 
riddle, and the work is done by the prisoners. Hitherto it has 
been obtained in the prison grounds, or has been bought from 
builders at 6d. a load. 5 cwt. of earth per annum is used per 
head, about 1^ lb. being allowed for each time the closet is 
used. The whole of it is used twice or three times, and it 
might no doubt be used more frequently if required. Large 
bins containing 2 tons each are set apart for storing the earth 
after use. The bins are under cover ; and in summer no arti- 
ficial heat is required to dry the earth compost sufficiently for 
re-use. After remaining about 5 weeks in the bins, the earth is 
passed through a riddle and used again. Neither ashes nor other 
dry materials are used with the earth, and nothing except faeces, 
with more or less urine, is allowed access to the closets. In 
winter a slow fire of cinders under a hollow brick floor soon 
dries the wet earth sufficiently to be passed through a half-inch 
sieve, and to be fit for repeated use in the closets, which are 
emptied weekly. 
The following are the printed instructions which Captain 
Armytage has given to warders as to the mode of usin^ the 
earth-closets : — 
" Instructions to Warders as to mode of using the 
Earth-Closets. 
" Not more than one pan of earth must be placed in the 
hopper-box at one time, so that when the pan below is filled, 
the hopper-box above will be empty. 
" In making the daily inspection, the Warder will take care 
that if the hopper be empty (or nearly so), the plan below, with 
