Sewage Farm Competition, 1879. 
57 
Two samples of sewage-sludge taken on the 29tli of September, 
1879, and analysed and valued by Dr. W. Wallace, the City 
analyst of Glasgow, had the following composition and value : — 
Analysis of Birmingham Sewage-Sludge, 29th September, 1879 
(Am Duied). By William Wallace, Ph.D., &c., Glasgow. 
Sludge 
from 
Rougiiing 
Tank. 
.Sludge as 
dug Into the 
Land. 
12-70 
19-19 
-40 
1- 45 
7-62 
1 1 • 1 0 
11 It^r 
•90 
2- 70 
2^68 
41-13 
13-lG 
20-04 
-72 
•35 
S-53 
1 9 - 74. 
1- 37 
3-20 
2- 5S 
37-93 
9S-9G 
100-62 
Pliospbatc of lime 
Equal to ammonia 
Calculated value per ton 
■87 
-52 
-63 
10s. 9(/. 
1-57 
-49 
•60 
lis. 5d. 
The operations of preparing the land and digging in the 
sludge cost 1:^/. per acre. This amount is not charged to the 
farm, as the sludge is not considered delivered to it until this 
operation has been completed. The land after it has received 
this sludge is turned up every two years with a steam plough. 
Experience shows that the sludge does not amalgamate with the 
soil ; and what strikes one is its utter worthlessness ; for even 
with the addition of lime, after the lapse of this period, it still 
exists as a mass of fibrous matter in the ground. 
The soil of the farm is sandy, and contains peat upon a gravel 
subsoil. The character of the soil is shown by experiments 
which have been made with reference to its absorption of water. 
The lighter portions, which contain peat, are shown to absorb 
78*8 per cent, of their weight in water, while a more loamy 
sample absorbed but 56-01 per cent, of its weight in water. 
The admixture of the sewage sludge has somewhat altered the 
natural character of the soil and increased its absorbent property 
for water. 
The farm, lying as it does between two small rivers — the 
Tame and the Rea — is liable to be flooded. Although the land 
