56 
A PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATION. 
the garden, and thence for a time soaked away through the surround¬ 
ing soil, until that becoming saturated with the vegetable and ani¬ 
mal matter contained in the water in a state of decomposition, the 
whole mass became putrid, and the surrounding atmosphere contam¬ 
inated and unwholsome. 
An opening was made into the centre of the brick cover of the 
Cess-pit, and a neighbouring copper-smith, for £2. supplied 
a pump, six yards long, and attached to it a series of tin pipes, in 
six feet lengths, one and a half in diameter, with a due proportion of 
knee-pieces, sufficient to command every bed, border and parterre in 
the garden By these means, liquid manure was conveyed to the 
root of every tree and plant in the garden, and by filling the trenches 
round the asparagus, sea-kale and rhubarb beds, when the plants 
were about to vegetate in the spring, the produce exceeded the most 
sanguine expectations, and the process being repeated three or four 
times in the season, the result of each application was equally satis¬ 
factory, any failure in the quantity of liquid manure in the cess-pit 
was supplied by the spring water pump, which at the same time 
cleared the drains, and made the whole place wholesome and sweet. 
In emptying the cess-pit of night soil, one of the beds set apart for 
vegetables was excavated to the depth of two and a half feet, and the 
night soil put into it, and covered with stable litter, the earth by 
degrees being cast upon it. In the spring, the bed was sown with 
onions, of which there was an excellent crop; this year there has 
been a crop of French beans upon the same bed, the produce of 
which was extraordinarily great, and at this time there is a crop of 
broccoli growing. In the spring, the bottom soil will be taken out, 
and used to dress the parterres and flower borders, which will, from 
the known chemical properties of the soil, no doubt, much increase 
the size and brilliancy of the flowers. I have stated this matter more 
in detail than many persons may think necessary, but I have done 
so, because I am satisfied that numberless housekeepers in the vici¬ 
nity of large towns are not aware of the advantages that may result 
from the proper application of the stagnant putrid water and night 
soil, which necessarily accumulates near every dwelling. I will just 
add, that at this season of the year, my partner collects the roots of 
the scarlet runners, Dahlias, Marvel of Peru, and of the border 
Geranium : and when free from external moisture, places them in 
layers, in a box, with a small quantity of straw between the layers— 
finally covering the whole with straw or saw-dust. The box is then 
placed in a closet under the stairs or celler, and at the usual time in 
the spring, the roots are taken out and planted, and generally with 
success. 
