336 
THE FLORIST. 
to convert the fertilising matter it contains into a solid form ; and 
that, if made use of at all, it must be in a liquid state. The question 
therefore remains, how can it be economically collected and preserved ? 
for I am of opinion that, this once secured, a valuable assistance to 
cultivation would be given, and a material turned to good account now 
in too many instances suffered to go to waste. 
It cannot be supposed that cottiers or tenants at will of larger holdings 
could construct the necessary tanks and drains for the purpose; but the 
landlord of every house should do so, and the cost of construction might 
be charged on the rent at so many years’ purchase, as is usual in other 
cases. I am of opinion that this would be freely paid, as the annual 
interest of the first cost of construction would be small, and the advan¬ 
tages to the holder very great. Where cottages adjoin each other, a 
tank might be constructed with divisions to hold the contents of three 
or four dwellings, and single tanks for isolated dwellings. The area of 
each tank should bear some proportion to the quantity of fluids which 
would flow into them in a given time. The tanks should be arched 
over and made water-tight, and built in the most convenient place for 
receiving the drains conveying the waste water from the house, and 
which should be made to flow through the closet, carrying the whole to 
the tank, in which a cast-iron pump should be fixed, and also a gauge 
to measure the height of the sewage inside, that it may be emptied 
before quite full. 
The application of this liquid should take place, whenever prac¬ 
ticable, in showery, or at any rate during dull weather; the effluvium 
arising from using it may sometimes be offensive, but it soon disperses ; 
and if applied in the evening but little of it will be perceived by the 
morning; the application will in nearly all instances save the use of 
manures ; applied to every kind of growing crop it will promote a rapid 
and luxuriant growth ; and during winter land intended for cropping in 
the spring should be well watered with it. I know that half an acre 
of land has been for several years kept in high cultivation by the 
contents of a small tank. Those who use it oma large scale may apply 
it by the liquid manure cart and drill, but those with smaller means 
must use water barrows or the common garden pot. The vessel in 
which it is conveyed should be covered. 
To the cultivator of flowering plants this kind of feeding presents 
itself favourably, promoting a fine clean growth and abundance of 
flower, as it may be applied only when necessary, after the plants have 
formed bloom buds, when it enables them to bloom in great perfection, 
and keeps them a long time in flower. It has been a general opinion 
that the luxuriant growth of a plant and its abundant blooming are 
antagonistic, and can only be obtained by the individual application of 
liquid manure ; for if the latter is applied to the soil in the first 
instance, rapid growth, it is true, is obtained, but frequently the plant 
exhausts itself in growdng, and does not show for bloom or produce 
it freely ; whereas let plants first be grown in a poorer soil till they 
show indications of blooming, and then apply liquid manure to bring 
them out. For fruit trees it is equally valuable. Pears do not ahvays 
come to their full size in this climate; they do so on the continent. Let 
