Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-11-09
agricultural
Cisterns for Barns.

A gentleman from New Hampshire,
who visited the farm of the agricultural
editor some time since, writes to learn
more particulars about the barn eistern
which supplied water for the stock. This
eistern has been built and in constant use
fer some twenty years. 1t is eemented
on the gravel, without bricking or stoning
except on one side next to the cellar wall /;
here it is strengthened by a thin wall of
stones laid in cement. From near the
bottom a pipe Is run through the cellar
wall and carried under ground to a warm
and convenient corner OF the cellar where
it empties into tub for supplying water
10 the stock without requiring the labor
Of drawing or pumping. The eistern Is
shaped like a common set kettle or farm.
ers boiler, being about ten feet deep and
eleven feet across at the top, aud holds
about one hundred hogsheads. 1t was
covered at first with two-inch chestnut
plank, laid on chestnut sleepers, but the
planks rOtted and have been replaced by
green chestnut timber. These are still
sound and bid fair to last many years.
Over the timber there is about eighteen
inches Of loan which entirely excludes
frost from the water and sides of the els
tern. Owing to an imperfect wasteway.
the cistern has occasionly, in years past,
overhowed and softcned the bank behind
the cement, allowing the pressure Of water
from within to crack the cement shell and
cause slight leak. The leaks were stop
ped by brushing the cracks over with a
thin coat o. cement. 1t has been tight
now for several wears. The cost at the
time IL was built was only about fifty
dollars, including the piping and cave
troughs on the barn, and pump for
drawing waite from the top. Six barrels
OF water lime were used, with about
double the quantity Of clean, sharp, coarse
sand. The lime cost, at that TINE, only a
little over two dollars per barrel. The
pump cost about ten dollars, and the cave
trough little more, leaving some fifteen
dollars for the digging, covering and work
of ,aying the cement. The digging was
all done in March, when other work was
not pressing.
II We were going 10 build again we
should. by al means, build larger. This
has never been dry but once in twenty
wears. and the number Of animals kept
has seldom been less than ten and often
nearly twice the number; besides, water
Is freely used for washing carriages and
in dry seasons Is drawn from. for wash
ing at the house, and TO supply neighbOrs
who are les fortunate in a water supply.
Still, there has not been a full supply at
all times, because the capacity Of the els
tern Is insufficient for holding all the
water that falls on the roof.
The gentleman asks, among other ques-
tons. What per cent. on the cost has it
paid %" We should say sbou, one hun
bred per cent. nearly or quite every year
since 1t was built There Is no durable
spring within more than 4 hundred rods
from tho farm. and that Is on the land OF
another aad beyond the adjoining farm
There Is no durable water on the farm
e.eap; In this cistern. although two wells
and a sprin, are seldom dry. The water
from the cistern runs by Us own weight
into the yard. thus saving all expenses
for drawing and pumping, which item
alone would east almost As much every
year a. the whole expense Of building
the cistein. Ii We were trying 10 build
the best and most durable cis,ern possible
We should line II with hard brick or a thin
wall of small stones land in cement Then
II should be covered by brick arch, and
all well plastered over with good coat Of
cement II the soil Is firm aud compact,
the cement will last well on the earth, but
more care will be needed in laying the
covering 50 that II shall not press upon
and break IN the wall. As the water
cannot run from the bottom of a cistern
If II Is lower than the cellar Of the barn
1t Is useless TO dig them very deep unless
the water Is 10 be lifted by force. II they
are made very wide 1t Is difficult 10 sup
port the covering OF earth, but We can see
no serious objection TO building them in an
oval form 10 any desirable extent. The
walls Of the she'll Of cement are much
stronger IL built somewhat circular. than
If they are perfectly fiat on either side
1t seems very strange that more eisterns
are not built both for stables and for
family nse, when the cost Is 50 slight and
the work 50 simple There is nothing
quite equal TO good cool spring near by
the buildings, from which water can be
drawn BY pipes to every room without
labor, but next to this We class a good
cistern, so placed that the water may be
used by the stock without pumping, and
this can be done on nearly all hillside
situstiOns.-rN. Z. Farmer.