178 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March 



as a rule), or near the back door, out of which the household 

 slops may be thrown and near which the garbage heap with 

 all sorts of refuse may be found. It is quite true that most 

 soils, and more particularly those that are porous and well 

 aerated (gravels and sands), possess filtering and purifying 

 properties in a marked degree, but the soil surrounding wells 

 located as we have described must in time become saturated 

 with organic filth of a most objectionable character, and is then 

 no longer able to purify but rather serves to more seriously 

 contaminate the water passing through it to the well, which 

 under such conditions may be said to act as a cess pit. 



Further, we frequently find these wells become the water)'' 

 grave for rats, mice, frogs and other small animals, the decom- 

 posing bodies of which render the water foul and unfit for use. 

 Imperfect protection of the mouth of the well may allow the 

 entrance of surface wash. Rotten crib work is another source 

 of contamination. Other causes of pollution could be enumer- 

 ated but enough has been said to justify the conclusion that 

 the ordinary farm well is at the best a poor supply and should 

 be abandoned for a safer, purer source. The examination in 

 the laboratories of the Experimental Farms of hundred of sam- 

 ples of such well waters have show T n that few of these wells 

 furnish a supply that can be considered wholesome, by far the 

 larger number must be condemned as totally unfit for use. 

 Considering the location of most farm wells, it is not a matter of 

 surprise that but a very small proportion of them yield water of 

 sufficient purity to be classed as satisfactory. Many of these 

 waters are colourless, bright, sparkling, clear and cool, but 

 these qualities are no criterion and it is by no means uncommon 

 to find waters possessing all these commendable properties and 

 at the same time reeking with filth. Of course, if a well water 

 becomes turbid after a rain, there is reason to reject it, for in 

 this turbidity we have a sign that the soil is no longer able to 

 do its work as a filter and purifier. 



A precaution of very considerable value, towards protecting 

 the well water from organic filth, is to line the well to a depth 

 of say 10 or 12 feet to a thickness of say 6 inches with concrete 

 or puddled elav. This lining should project some 6 to 12 inches 

 above the mouth of the well. This prevents the direct inflow 

 of wash and of water from the surface soil, in which the larger 

 amount of putrescible organic matter is found and ensures a 

 certain amount of filtration through clean layers of soil. 



Another safeguard is to keep an area of say 50 yards radius 

 round the well free from manure and all deposition of filth, 

 (it should preferably be in sod), and this plan we would heartily 

 recommend to those who are contemplating sinking a well for 



