1912] The Ottawa Naturalist. 179 



household use or for watering stock. If the ground surrounding 

 the well is an undisturbed area and free from all excretal waste, 

 it will perform its function as a natural filter and the water may 

 be very good. Especially is this the case if the soil is sand or 

 gravel, for such will not only remove suspended matter and 

 germ life, but will also foster the destruction by oxidation of 

 the organic matter held in solution. A clay subsoil is far inferior 

 to sand in its purifying effect.* 



Deep Seated Waters. These are waters that have percolated 

 through the soil and permeable rock strata until arrested bv an 

 impervious stratum. They may appear on the surface as 

 springs, but are more commonly obtained by deep wells, driven 

 or bored, possibly through several overlying impervious strata 

 to the water bearing rock. If there are no fissures in these 

 overlying strata and there is no opportunity for water to flow 

 downwards between piping and the sides of the boring, a good 

 water will in all probability, be obtained. While it cannot be 

 taken for granted that a bored well will necessarilv vield a good 

 drinking water , it is the source of supply to be generally recom- 

 mended for the isolated households. Examination has shown 

 that they are capable of furnishing in the larger number of in- 

 stances, and when proper precaution has been taken to exclude 

 surface water, a supply of high organic purity and very low 

 bacterial content. In certain districts we find these deep seated 

 waters characterized by an excess of saline matter, rendering 

 them unsuitable for domestic use; but when such is not the case 

 the deep well undoubtedly constitutes a safer and better source 

 of supply than the shallow, ground water well. With a pump 

 actuated by a windmill, small gasoline or hot air engine, tanks 

 can be filled in the farm buildings for the watering of the stock 

 and in the farm house to supply the bath room and kitchen. 

 Such an arrangement would mean much, not only in the matter 

 of convenience and the saving of labor, but in the still more 

 important matter of securing a supply that would lead to better 

 thrift in the stock and better health in the familv. 



Before bringing this address to a close, I must answer 

 though it may be briefly, one or two questions that have been 

 handed me for reply. 



1. Is a hard water injurious to health? The human system 

 has a remarkable adaptability and though certain authorities 

 have considered that a hard water is inducive to the formation 

 of calculi there is very little evidence to support the statement. 



* Analyses of well waters from farm homesteads are made free of 

 charge by the Chemical Division, Experimental Farm, Ottawa, provided 

 the samples are collected and shipped in accordance with instructions 

 that are sent on application . 



