The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-29 00:00:00

Essex Reclamation Company. The results 'of
his experiments with sewage irrigation are extremely
interesting to all those who have turned their attention to
the utilisation of the sewage, and are especially important
to agriculturists. He commences the report by stating
that one-fourth of the Lodge Farm has been during the
last two years devoted to the growing of Italian rye-grass.
This has been attended with a somewhat less favourable
result than last year, as regards the weight of the crop.
It is necessary, however, to state that whilst the area
of grass cut this season was five acres less than last year,
and the quantity of sewage applied to the whole farm up
to the 20th Jnne this season was 204,000 tons, producing
892 tons of grass, in addition to other produce, the 279,000
tons applied to grass alone last year yielded up to the same
date 769 tons only ; this proportionate increase, however,
has not been sustained, owing in a great measure to the
following circumstances. Of the 55 acres of grass cut
last year, only 15 acres had been previously cut, whereas
of the 50 acres cut during this season, the whole, except.
ing 5i acres, had been cut during last year to the utmost
extent, and in consequence of this a large quantity of
the grass plants died out during last July, and the grass
cut from 20th June to Ist September has been 917 tons
less this season than last. The value of sewage-grovvn
grass is beginning to be appreciated, and the demand for
it now exceeds the supply. The rye-grass under sewage
is most profitably cultivated by being cut for one year
only. It may be necessary, in order to obtain the
earliest crop in the spring, not to sow later than August,
which would necessitate a cutting before winter; but for
the later crops the only difference between sowing in
October or March is, that the autumn sowing gives a
larger crop for the first cutting ; but that advantage must
be balanced against the results of an intermediate crop.
Mr. Petre states, in illustration, that a plot sown 25th
October was cut on the 20th May and 11th June,
giving eight tons to the acre each time ; whilst
a plot sown 2nd March gave only four tons to
the acre on 19th May, but over eight tons on the
11th June. If surprise be expressed that the quantity is
not greater this season in consequence of the warm
weather, it is explained by the dying out of the two-year-
old plants, and it is noted that a moderate quantity of
sewage in a damp season will produce more grass than a
larger quantity in a dry one. In addition to feeding
from 50 to GO milking cows entirely on sewage-grown
grass, with most satisfactory results, two young steers
have been fed exclusively on that grass from 18th May.
On 7th August their respective live weights had risen from
7i cwt. to 94 cwt., and from 6 cwt. to 74 cwt. The
results of some interesting experiments are given in the
report. A field of 12 acres of poor gravel that was in
wheat last year was sown in the following manner: 4t
acres were sown with wheat early in November-2 acres
of red wheat and 2i acres of white rough chaff ; 24 acres
were sown in October with winter oats ; 4 acres were sown
in October with rye ; 2 acres were planted with cabbage
in October, which was taken off in March, and mangold
sown in their place. This wheat was twice flooded with
sewage, in March and in April, 450 to 500 tons to the
acre being applied in the two dressings. This crop was
cut in the second week of July, and was thrashed in the
field, producing 5 qrs. to the acre, weighing 631 b. to the
bushel ; three loads of straw to the acre. The white
wheat was sold at Mark-lane by Messrs. James and Sons,
on 27th July, at 60s. per qr., the exceptional price of
the day being 625. The red wheat was sold by the same
firm on 3rd August, at 545. per qr., the market
having fallen considerably during the interval. The
winter oats were three times flooded—in March and in
April over the whole, and over a part in June—in all about
500 tons to the acre. These oats were cut in July,
thrashed in the field, yielding eight quarters to the acre,
with three loads of straw per acre, and were valued on
3rd August at 275. per acre. The rye was flooded twice,
in March and in April, in all with about 450 to 500 tons per
acre, was cut in July and thrashed in the field, yielding six
qrs. to the acre, with three loads of straw, and was sold at
Mark-lane on 27th July at 40s. per qr., weighing 5711 b.
to the bushel. The mangold, following the cabbage
adjoining the last crop, has been sewaged three times, and
the crop is now estimated at 20 tons per acre.
These facts seem to protest conclusively against the com-
monly-received opinion, as stated in the third report of the
Royal Commission of 1865, that town sewage is nJt appli-
cable to cereal crops. Mr. Petre recommends that in the
case of wheat the sewage should never be applied after
the formation of the ear has commenced ; but the same
care is not apparently necessary with oats, if attention be
paid to prevent their being laid. As soon as the oath
and rye were removed, the land (being so hard no plough
could touch it) was flooded with sewage, ploughed up, and
sown with white turnips. Within the week, without any
rain, the turnips were up, and they now present, in spite
of the attacks of the fly, the appearance of a good early
crop, calculated to be worth £lO per acre before the end of
September. The results of the three-acre piece of black
oats after cabbage on a poor gravel are equally satisfactory.
These oats were sown in the end of March, were flooded
with sewage in May and in June, in all 400 tons to the
acre ; were thrashed in the field on July 26th, and produced
six quarters to the acre, valued on 3rd August at 265. per
quarter. A plot of rye grass was sown in September
1866, from which was cut 58 tons of grass to the acre
during the spring and summer of 1867. This plot was
ploughed up, and sown with black oats in the end of
February of this year. No sewage whatever was directly

applied to this crop, but from its position it may be said

to have stolen a certain quantity, as the land around it
was flooded, and one of the channels passed through it.
These oats were thrashed in the field on 26th July, and
yielded eight quarters to the acre, valued on 3rd August at
265. per quarter. Some experiments on a smaller scale
are then given with canaryseed, linseed, parsnips,
potatoes, sugar-beet, red cabbage, onions, &c., and
with great success in all cases, especially with cabbages.
Perhaps the most satisfactory result is that with the
mangold wurtzel, though quite expected, from the expe•
rience of the crop of last year on a smaller scale. A plot
of rye-grass of about three acres, sown in August 1866,

and producing the following summer more than 60 tow
of grass to the acre, was ploughed up in November, sown
with mangold early in April—long, red and yellow globe.
A sprinkling of sewage was applied to start the plants,
and the land was flooded in May and August ; the crop
was at the end of August calculated at 40 tons per acre.
In these cases the crops were raised with sewage manure
alone. The report contains an account of the cultivation
of the rest of the farm, consisting of about 100 acres. On
this the only manure applied is salt and the saw-
dust litter used in the cow-houses and stables.
A field of 11 acres was planted Ist February, 1868, with
potatoes, 30 loads of sawdust litter to the acre being
ploughed in ; these potatoes were dug between 23rd June
and 19th August, and produced five tons to the acre,
commanding the best price at Covent-garden and the
Borough markets. Another field of 10 acres was manured
with 20 loads of sawdust litter to the acre, and planted in

March with potatoes, producing, between that and the
middle of July, five tons to the acre. These crops were
respectively after wheat and cabbage. Twenty-one acres
were sown on 17th April with mangold, 30 loads to the
acre of sawdust litter were ploughed in with 6cwt. of salt,
and the crop promises to yield 20 tons to the acre. Forty
acres of wheat, red and white, sown after mangold (fo)
which the land had been highly manured with sawdust
litter and artificial compounds), has been well harvested.
The white has been thrashed, producing 5i quarters to
the acre, and three loads of straw. The red wheat ie
estimated to be an equally good crop. M. Petre then
institutes a comparison between the sewage and other
manures. No amount of ordinary manure could produce
6 or 7 crops of grass a season, weighing from 6 to 12 tons each.
In the case of niangold also, the knowledge that two dress•

ings or floodings of sewage, consisting of 200 to 300 tons per
acre each, is capable of producing a crop of from 50 to 60

tons per acre, enable a comparison to be drawn with the
ordinary crop of 20 to 25 tons produced with a good dress•

bag of farmyard dung. The crop of wheat grown last
year without any manure was about 3i quarters to the
acre ; this year the yield with sewage was 5i quarters.
The land is a poor gravel. Mr. Petre remarks that the
formation of the face of the land for sewage irrigation is
regarded by some as a serious impediment to the adoption
of the system. Ile describes his plan as follows :
" I divided the land into beds of 30 to 36 feet wide,
then ploughed them to a high ridge in the centre, like
the old pasture lands in the middle counties, a channel
being ploughed out on the top of the ridge, communicating
with a carrier running
into
right angles on each side of the
field ; the sewage, being let this ridge-furrow, over-
flowed it, and thoroughly dressed the land on either side.
When there is a sufficient fan, what is termed the catch-
water plan would be less expensive and equally effective.
The cost of sewage channels in any case must be balanced
against the heavy and constantly-recurring expense of
horses, carts, and own, in manuring the land in the ordi-
nary mode. In conclusion I must remark., that although,
perhaps, a larger return might be obtained by cultivating
only the most profitable crops, it must be remembered
that this :arm was established with a view of testing the
real prac ical value of Own sewage in ordinary agricul-
ture, and exhil iting the results, more especially to the
farmers of South Essex, the company's future customers
for the whole of the sewage of North London, not more
• than one three hundred and fiftieth part of which
is used on Lodge Farm in a year." A farmer
is now nowhere unless he is both scientific and
practic d. lle ought to be a chemist in some measure, but
in the absence of special knowledge such facts as given in
the report from which we have quoted will be of great
value to him. The great sanitary question of the day is
the disposal of town sewage. The pollution of our rivers
and streams is not thought to be the best solution of the.
difficulty. This sewage is proved to be a most valuable
manure, and if the nuisance of the town, the source of
fevers and sickness, can be rendered the origin of fertility
in the country, the adjustment of the right thing in tb•
eght place will be accomplished.