The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-01-05
FARM WATER SUPPLY.
Practical Hints on Matter of Utmost Inn
portance to Dairymen.

1
portance to Dairymen.
Springs art naturally the purest
sources of water supply. The WAGER
filtering through unpolluted soil is
cleanscd and oNidized by action of the
fine porous earth or rock through
which it passes. All organic matter is
thus safely disposed of. and if alumina
or lime are not in excess in the soil. the
water is clear. free from unwholeSome
germs, and is highly charged with oxy-
| gen and carbonic acid. to which it
owes its sparkling appearance and its
brisk, agreeable flavor Consequently,
when supply is available from q
spring kept safely from all contomina-
ton, it is the best that can be procured.
As to means of conveyance, metal
pipes are more or less corroded and dis
solved by water of the kind mentioned;
lead and zinc are positively dangerous;
iron soon rusts and fills the pipes. stop
ping the flow; the only metal pipe
available is iron prepared by q peroNi-
dizing process known as the Bower
Barf method. which the metal is
covered with an insoluble surface of
magnetic oxide and never rusts.
Wooden pipes if kept costantly flied
with water are durable and scrvicea-
bic, and the right kind of wood gives
no taste to the water. Cucumber wood
and spruce (hemlOck included rs 4
spruce) make the best pipes. They
should be made in lengths of eight.
ten or twelve feet, bored in q frame
with long augcr, reamcd out at one
end to fit a taper at the other which
joins water-tight. and the reamed end
is kept from splitting by a sharp-edged
ring driven into the wood. The pipes
should be buried below the reach of
frost. and further protection may be
given by laying them in q box filled
| with broken stone, to furnish non-con-
Quoting air-spa:e. Then comes the
disposal of the water for house service.
A spring-house is the best means for
this, rs the water can be made to serve
several purposes.
stone. which is durable, non-absorp-
tive and non-cOnductive of heat and
also of cold 1t i convenient 20 have
the house on the side of hill. so that
tank may be built in it. if this be pos
sible. Where deep milk-pails are used
the tank should be twenty-five inches
deep and provided with an overflow to
carry off the surface. Hydraulic &C.
mcnt and hard brick or stone make the
best tank. Some arrangement. as bya
tap, should be made to supply water
for domestic use and the tank kept for
preserving milk and cream. The tank
should be covered with one or two fall
ing doors, by which the water is kept
from freezing in cold weather and cool
in hot weather. The remainder of the
spring-house may contain wire
gaugc-covered meat and provision
closet. The air of Il cool spring-house
is not nearly so damp as warm cellar
and mould is very rarely seen in one.
This is because the water is not stag
nant; the air is too cool and fresh to
suit the growth of mildew, and being
cool dissolves only a small quantity Of
moisture. Possibly an outer lining of
boards laid over Turing strips and
painted white would be found desira-
BILE to preserve the house from frost in
winter and heat in summer. If ut any
time the air be found damp, it is easily
dried by putting Il peek of fresh lime
in it. which will absorb nine pounds of
moisture and then become still dry
and fine powder. The lime will never
come amiSs for many uses about house,
garden, orchard or farm. The connec-
ton of the pipes at the spring is best
made by building in the spring with
stone, in which the pipe is laid. and
covering it in with large flat stones or
semi globular arch. which is capped
bv Hat stone. Provision is To be
made for the overflow to 90 off safely.
A Pennsylvania Dairy"lGa. ia y. T.
Tribune.