RURAL ENGINEERING. 779 



It was found that pure distilled water, free from dissolved gases, exerts 

 but a very slight action upon lead. The action is greatly modified when certain 

 gases, especially hydrogen, carbon dioxid, oxygen, and air are dissolved in the 

 water. The phosphates of calcium and sodium when dissolved in water seemed 

 to prevent entirely the dissolving of lead. The carbonates and bicarbonates 

 of the alkaline metals and earths ranked next in preventive action. 



Along with a number of other results, it was found that " the purer natural 

 waters, such as rain water and the waters from streams (before they have had 

 the opportunity of dissolving much mineral or organic matter or received mate- 

 rial amounts of spring waters), exert actions which are comparable with the 

 action of ordinary distilled water. Rain waters containing large quantities of 

 acids react like distilled water containing acids. Moorland waters are generally 

 very free from dissolved mineral matter, but contain varying amounts of organic 

 matter and are usually very soft. [They] may have alkaline, neutral, or acid 

 reactions; they generally attack lead rather vigorously, but seldom more 

 actively than distilled water. The waters gathered from peaty moorlands ex- 

 hibit at certain seasons an increased acidity, but this can not account for the 

 amount of lead with which they become contaminated. . . . Distilled water 

 and rain water showed diminished actions upon lead after contact with peat, 

 but the reverse was the case with a soft upland lake water and with a hard 

 spring water. . . . Lake waters, which are naturally very pure and contain only 

 small amounts of saline matter, exert a much weaker action than either rain 

 water or distilled water. Their action, though generally of a low degree, is 

 liable to variation during different seasons." 



The water supply of farm homesteads, P. T. Shutt (Canada Expt. Farms 

 Rpts. 191^, pp. 90, 129-135). — ^Analyses of 168 samples of farm water supplies 

 are reported, which show that 62 were pure, 44 were of doubtful quality and 

 probably dangerous, and 25 were seriously contaminated. Thirty-four samples 

 were too saline for potable use. 



For the isolated farmhouse the bored or drilled well, tapping a deep-seated 

 source of water, is strongly advocated. It is also suggested " that the area 

 around the well, say for a radius of at least 50 yds., be kept free from manure 

 and all filth. It may preferably be kept in sod. Another precaution of con- 

 siderable value toward the protection of the well water from organic filth 

 is to line the well to a depth of say 10 to 12 ft. and to a thickness of say 6 in. 

 with concrete or puddled clay. This lining should project some 6 to 12 in. 

 above the mouth of the well'." 



The application of water to citrus orchards and the maintenance of the 

 proper moisture content of the soil, W. M. Meetz {Mo. Bui. Com. Hort. Cal., 4 

 {1915), No. 3, pp. 14^0-145). — In this paper the points which are considered of 

 prime importance in the irrigation of citrus orchards are summarized as 

 follows : 



" Lay off the land so that the furrows will not be . . . longer than 400 or 

 500 ft. or with a fall of more than 6 in. to the 100 ft. If the land is com- 

 paratively level use pipe line and standpipes as a distributing system, other- 

 wise use the cement flume. Furrow ... at least 6 in. deep. When starting 

 the water run it as rapidly from the flume to the lower end of the furrow 

 as the grade will permit without washing, then cut the head down to prevent 

 waste from the end. Run the water long enough to have the soil soaked to 

 the 4-ft. level at the lower end of the furrow, then turn it off. Harrow to fill 

 the furrows as soon after irrigation as the soil will work without puddling the 

 soil on which the team walks. As soon as the deeper soil is dry enough to 

 work mellow, cultivate deeply. Duplicate every two weeks until the next 

 irrigation." 



