filch cows thrive remarkably well on,this grass, and it has been proved by chemical analysis that the milk is of the best quality, while the vegetables are also quite whole some.
Could such a system be carried out in the neighborhood of all our large towns, the results would be highly beneficial. The difficulties in the way, principally arising from ignorance on the subject, have been great; but to this system, or something like it, there can be no doubt, before many years, we must come, to prevent pollution of the rivers, and to make the most of the sources of fertility which are at our command. but which we are at present recklessly wasting. Many committees have been appointed by tho house of commons to inquire and take evidence on this subject. In 1857 a commission was issued by the crown to certain gentlemen, at the head of whom was lord Essex, to inquire into " the best mode of distributing the sewage of towns, and applying it to beneficial and profitable uses." This commission went to work principally at Rugby, and made a vast number of experiments, the general result of which may be stated to be, that ordinarily diluted sewage may be said to produce such increased crops as to warrant an agriculturist in giving one halfpenny a ton for it, a ton of water eon taing 224 gallons.
The third report was issued in April, 1865, and the following recommendations are given as the results of their labors: "1. The right way to dispose of town-sewage is to apply it continuously to land, and it is only by such application that the pollution of rivers can be avoided.
"2. The financial results of a continuous application of sewage to land differ under different local circumstances; first, because in some places irrigation can be effected by gravity, while in other places more or less pumping must be employed; secondly, because heavy soils (which in given localities may alone be available for the purpost) are less fit than light soils for continuous irrigation by sewage.
" 3. Where local circumstances are favorable, and undue expenditure is avoiderT, towns may derive profit, more are less considerable, from applying their sewage in agri culture. Under opposite circumstances, there may not lie a balance of profit; but even in such cases a rate in aid, required to cover any loss, needs not be of large amount. Finally, on the basis of the above conclusions, we further beg leave to express to your lordships that, in our judgment, the following two principles are established for legisla tive application: First, that wherever rivers are polluted by a discharge of town-sewage into them, the towns may reasonably be required to desist from causing that public nuisance. Second, that where town-populations are injured or endangered in health by a retention of cesspool-matter among them, the towns may reasonably be required to provide a system of sewers for- its removal; and should the law as it stands be found insufficient to enable towns to take land for sewage-application, it would, in our opinion, be expedient that the legislature should give them powers for that purpose." It is obvious, however, to any one perusing the above paragraphs, that they are exceedingly vague, and form but little guide to any one who must go into the question of whether money invested in utilization, of sewage-schemes will pay an adequate return upon the outlay. The uncertainty attending the dilution of the sewage; the necessity of making the earth take it at all seasons; the distance that the liquid has to be pumped —have all been such difficulties in the way, that the eommissiou could not well arrive at any other result than they have done.
Experience has now proved, what was formerly a matter of presumption, that, until we arrive at fixed quantities, no reliable principles can be laid down that would in all cases enable us to overcome the difficulties attending the sanitary management and utilization of sewage.