180 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



WELL WATERS FROM FARM HOMESTEADS. 



It should be realized by all farmers and dairymen that an ample supply of pure 

 water for the use of the household and stock is a matter of the greatest importance. 

 Careful investigations have furnished proof as to the danger to the health of human 

 beings from drinking polluted water, and what must be injurious to man cannot be good for 

 beast. Until quite recently all that was thought sufficient was to provide nourishing, 

 palatable food for farm animals ; but little heed has been paid in the past to the quality 

 of the water the animals drank. It is with pleasure, therefore, that we record a deeper 

 interest year by year on the part of our agriculturists in this question, a greater desire 

 to know the character of the water supplied to their stock and a stronger inclination to 

 rectify matters when it has been pointed out to them that the supply was polluted. 



Water contaminated with excrementitious matter, we are, or ought to be, fully 

 aware, has been frequently the cause of spreading typhoid fever and other serious and 

 often fatal infectious diseases. In such water all the most favourable conditions are pre- 

 sent for the growth and rapid development of disease germs should they find an entrance. 

 As a people, however we have failed to recognize that the continued use of water 

 containing the decomposing dejecta of animals has a peculiarly baneful and, at the same 

 time be it noted, insidious effect on the general health. Undoubtedly many cases of 

 indigestion, diarrhoea, sick headache and many similar illnesses have had their cause in 

 the use of polluted water. 



But not only is the health of the farmer and his family endangered by a bad water 

 supply, the health and thrift of his stock must likewise be impaired. Good 

 health and freedom from disease in stock, are dependent to a great extent upon an 

 abundant, pure water supply. Similarly, in the dairy, creamery and cheese factory, 

 pure water is an absolute necessity if the products are to be first class and preserve a 

 good flavour. Several of the samples examined during the past year were sent from 

 cheese factories in which trouble had arisen in the matter of flavour, and in all the 

 instances the water was found to be foul and polluted. This is a significant fact and 

 carries its lesson to those engaged in dairying. 



The most common cause of well pollution has been the sinking of the well in the 

 barn-yard or under one of the farm buildings. We object to this practice on principle 

 and hold that only under the most exceptional circumstances can it be followed with 

 impunity. From our experience, it would appear that in the majority of instances 

 it is only a matter of time before such wells act as cess pits. Unless most careful provi- 

 sion is made to prevent the liquid manure from soaking into the ground, it sooner or 

 later, according to the nature of the soil, finds its way into the well. If this be so it 

 behooves all farmers and dairymen to locate their well at a safe distance from such in- 

 fecting sources. 



The greatest care should be taken at cheese factories and creameries that the waste 

 water does not find its way into the water supply, and to insure this thorough and 

 efficient drainage is necessary. 



Further, there is much room for improvement in keeping the buildings and barn- 

 yard clean. If greater care had been exercised in this matter, many wells might now be 

 free from impurity. Apart from the questions that a dirty barn-yftrd means a loss of 

 valuable plant food — a question well worthy of closer consideration — there remains the 

 equally important fact that such is usually a menaoe to health through the contamina- 

 tion of the well water. 



The analyses of the waters examined in the Central Farm laboratories during the 

 past year are given in tabular form and condensed reports respecting the quality of the 

 waters is to be found in the last column. A perusal of this table will show that a very 

 many of the samples were seriously and dangerously polluted. We would not 

 have it inferred from this that a similar percentage of Canadian farm wella are in a like 



