An interesting fact

tezzer · 16-03-2010, 00:31

Manure: In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship and it was also before commercial fertilizer's invention, so large shipments of manure were common.

It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, it not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by product is methane gas.
As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could (and did) happen.
Methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM!

Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was happening.

After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the term
'Ship High In Transit' on them, which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane.

Thus evolved the term ' S.H.I.T ', (Ship High In Transit) which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.

You probably did not know the true history of this word.
Neither did I.

I had always thought it was a golf term.

DaveAMac · 16-03-2010, 08:01

Thanks, mate! You learn something new every day here!

Freebird · 16-03-2010, 08:06

Well, this site is a mind of information, cheers.

zippy656 · 16-03-2010, 08:45

all useless but a mine non the less

clivvy · 16-03-2010, 08:53

brilliant!

wildbri · 16-03-2010, 12:12

Funny that as i have just come in from collecting a trailor full of horse manure ( or should I say S.H.I.T) for my roses, I have just Google horse manure and there is a long thread on the pros and cons of putting fresh (S.H.I.T) or rotted (S.H.I.T) on the plants, including what the horse have been fed on or bedded in...... aint life complecated? A long way from when my Ma used to send me out with a bucket and shovel to follow the milk man and his horse drawn float to collect the (S.H.I.T) strait from the horse...... As an apprentice whilst working at the dairy I was persuded by the boss with promise of half a crown (which he never paid me!)
To bring him a sack of horse (S.H.I.T) back to the office, this I did carring the sack on the fuel tank of my motorbike, need less to say the juises of the manure ( horse piss) ran out of the sack down my legs and filling my wellies! I feel I have been in the (S.H.I.T) all my life...
only the depth has varied...... Still (S.H.I.T.) is good for you it helps you grow stronger, just look at the roses. regards bri

16-03-2010, 00:31	#1
tezzer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: basildon essex Vehicle: transit camper van 1987 Posts: 2,829	An interesting fact Manure: In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship and it was also before commercial fertilizer's invention, so large shipments of manure were common. It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, it not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by product is methane gas. As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could (and did) happen. Methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM! Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was happening. After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the term 'Ship High In Transit' on them, which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane. Thus evolved the term ' S.H.I.T ', (Ship High In Transit) which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day. You probably did not know the true history of this word. Neither did I. I had always thought it was a golf term.

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16-03-2010, 08:01	#2
DaveAMac Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Scotland Vehicle: '99 Terrano II SE Touring Posts: 129	Thanks, mate! You learn something new every day here!

16-03-2010, 08:06	#3
Freebird Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: West Cumbria. Vehicle: 1996 Terrano 2 Posts: 161	Well, this site is a mind of information, cheers.

16-03-2010, 08:45	#4
zippy656 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Devizes Wiltshire Vehicle: Nissan Note Ntec 1.5 Posts: 14,138	all useless but a mine non the less

16-03-2010, 08:53	#5
clivvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Huddersfield Vehicle: Terrano 03 LWB Posts: 6,947	brilliant!

16-03-2010, 12:12	#6
wildbri Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: south lakeland Vehicle: terrano 1997 tdi Posts: 940	Funny that as i have just come in from collecting a trailor full of horse manure ( or should I say S.H.I.T) for my roses, I have just Google horse manure and there is a long thread on the pros and cons of putting fresh (S.H.I.T) or rotted (S.H.I.T) on the plants, including what the horse have been fed on or bedded in...... aint life complecated? A long way from when my Ma used to send me out with a bucket and shovel to follow the milk man and his horse drawn float to collect the (S.H.I.T) strait from the horse...... As an apprentice whilst working at the dairy I was persuded by the boss with promise of half a crown (which he never paid me!) To bring him a sack of horse (S.H.I.T) back to the office, this I did carring the sack on the fuel tank of my motorbike, need less to say the juises of the manure ( horse piss) ran out of the sack down my legs and filling my wellies! I feel I have been in the (S.H.I.T) all my life... only the depth has varied...... Still (S.H.I.T.) is good for you it helps you grow stronger, just look at the roses. regards bri