28 
Report of the Judges on the 
tact with the iron of the soil is to impart to the effluent sewage 
a decidedly inky hue. 
We cannot say that the effluent passing from the drains is 
always pure, as there were indications that the unpurified sewage 
occasionally finds its way through the land into the drains. 
This is usually the case where land of this character is under- 
drained, as the elfect of under-drainage is to cause the ground to 
dry and shrink, thus leaving minute fissures or cracks through 
which the sewage will pass into the drains, in certain seasons of 
the year, with little or no purification. 
The cost of preparing the land for the reception of the sewage 
has been somewhat heavy. Large quantities of earth have been 
excavated, and the valley has been considerably widened in 
the bottom by the excavations from the sides. The sum of 
1691/. lis. 8d. has been expended on the works, being at the 
rate of over 105?. per acre. It should be said in reference to 
this capital, that five per cent, every year has been charged in the 
farm accounts in addition to the rents, which are the same as those 
paid for the land before the sewage farm was established, and in 
the year 1878 as much as 66/. 95. was charged for interest. The 
farm, however, has earned, after paying rent, interest, and all 
expenses, in the eight years since it was established, the sum of 
373/. 5s. Q^d., which has been applied to the reduction of the 
capital, which is now 1329/. 2s. lO^d. The balance of profit 
and the yearly value of the crops, as abstracted from the farm 
accounts since 1871, have been as follows: — 
Profit and Loss Account. 
Tear. 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
187G 
1877 
1878 
Loss. 
£ «. d. 
47 '3 5 
£47 3 5 
Deduct Loss . . 
Profit .. .. 
Profit. 
£ s. d. 
2 7 7^ 
45 "3 2 
1G3 0 10 
140 10 11 
50 6 3 
8 3 5 
10 16 9 
£420 8 Hi 
47 3 5 
£373 5 6J 
Value of Crop, 
calculated 
on Sewage Area, 
per Acre. 
£ s. 
11 5 
17 1 
24 6 
26 6 
19 19 
15 ]6 
16 5 
12 0 0 
The foregoing return shows that the value of the crops per 
acre has considerably declined during the past three years. This, 
