THE VALUE OF SEWAGE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 999, 24 April 1891, Page 23

THE VALUE OF SEWAGE.

The configuration of the land upon which the city of Wellington is built, excludes as far as is at present seen, the theory that we can utilise the value of oar sewage as a commercial article. There are other rising towns iu thi3 Colony, however, which may at no distant date have to solve the problem of dealing in a. satisfactory menner with the sewage. The city of a Adelaide spreads its sewage on a farm which yields enormous crops, raising a large revenue which goes towards paying civic expenses. In England, one of the most successful sewage farms is the one owned by the corporation of Birmingham. * Some very interesting figures were given with regard to this farm—so ably managed by Mr David Tough, whose roots have won so many prizes at winter shows —at the annual meeting of the Birmingham, Tame, and Rea District Drainage Board, held reoently. The report then presented stated that 14 acres of wheat had yielded 45 bushels per acre and 32cwt of straw; 34 acres of oats, 68 bushels per acre and 35cwt straw ; 5 acres of rye, 45 bushels per acre and 3Sc*«t straw ; 100 acres of mangels, estimated at 3050 tons, or an average of nearly 31 tons per acre ; 42 acres of swedes, 21 tons per acre ; 27 acres ofkhol rabl, 24 tons per acre ; and 52 acres of green-top turnips, 11 acres sold, and remainder consnmed by stock ; 85 acres potatoes, yielded 9 tons per acre ; 1644 acres cabbageß, viz., 80 acres maiden, 50 acres savoy, 16 acres red, and 184 drumhead; 5 acres cauliflower, 1 acre Brussels prouts, 22 acreß curled greens, 10 acres carrots, 10 acres parsnips, 54 acres celery, 4 »° re lettuce, 8 acres kidney beans, 34 acres rhubarb, and 3 aores peas. The total proceeds from vegetable and other crops amounted to £bo72 Is

7d. There was a marked decrease in the prices of some of the crops, notably kidney beans, oauliflowers, and red cabbage. Ibis was owing to the unprecedented quality of vegetables grown in 1890, resulting in a very keen competition in the markets. There were 103 aores rye grass. Of this 47 acres were grown at baltley, which produced at five cuttings nearly 1000 tons, or an average of 21 tons 6 cwt per acre. Of this quantity 366 tons were sold -at lid 8d per ton, realising £217 93 4d ; 56S tons consumed by stock, aad 64 tons partially dried for cover, ing roots. The remaining 56 acres were grown at Tyburn, aad produced 1736 ton, or an average of 31 tons per acre; 1600 tons wera consumed by stock, and remainder partially dried for covering roots. 190 aores of grass were mown, which produced 332 tous ; also 12 aores rape. Duriug the year 141.607 gallons of milk had been sold at 7d per gallon, realising £4094 9s 2d ; as against 139 606 gallons, realising £4044 10s lastyear, or an increase of 2001 gallons. The dairy reoord book showed that cow No. 456 yielded 1347 gallons during the year, and eighteen others exceeded 1000 gallons each, and that tbe whole herd exceeded, on an average, SSO gallons each cow per annumn, or a net return of £25 per cow. The annual Christmas sale of fat stock-took place at Tyburn on the 9th of December, when 124 beasts, 138 sheep, and 128 pigs were sold, and the net proceeds amounted to £3679 l a - Four horses, 335 beasts, 321 sheep, and 4 pigs had been purchased for £Bl9l 4s ; and 4 horses, 361 beasts, 500 sheep, 55 lambs, 220 pigs, and 52 oalves were sold for £10,034 7s.