196 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 



From our own correspondence, and from the attention given in agricultural meet- 

 ings and by the press, we are convinced that every year marks a more lively interest ia 

 this question of pure water upon the farm. There is no doubt that the number of 

 farmers placing the base or source of their supply at a safe distance from possible pollu- 

 tion is steadily on the increase. 



Nevertheless, there are still many who exhibit a complete apathy on this vital 

 question, and it is to these we would appeal. If there are reasons to suspect the water 

 — indications of contamination in smell or appearance — they should not be disregarded. 

 It is quite possible that the well is receiving pernicious drainage from barn-yard, 

 stable or privy. Neglect in this matter may mean jeopardizing the health of the 

 farmer and his family, not to speak of troubles of various kinds in the dairy and 

 cheese factory. 



A number of the waters received from Manitoba and the North-west Territories, 

 as well as from certain districts in other provinces, have been shown to be strongly 

 Baline. In the report of this Division for 1893, the results of certain experiments to- 

 wards the improvement of saline waters are recorded. It is there shown that when the 

 chief saline constituent is Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) purification to a large 

 extent may be effected by the judicious use of lime-water. For the preparation of a 

 potable water from those containing sulphate and chloride of sodium (Glauber's salt 

 and common salt) it will be necessary to have recourse to distillation, no method of 

 filtration or precipitation for such waters being practicable. There are now upon the 

 market several small stills that can be used on the kitchen stove and require but little 

 attention. We cannot speak from personal experience of these household stills, but 

 there is no apparent reason why they should not prove effective, yielding at but little, 

 if any, extra expense a sufficiency of good palatable drinking water for the household. 



