WATEE DIVINING — GREGORY 



341 



the test, and no one present at the trial knew where the oil was 

 placed. Sir John Cadman regards the result as a " complete fiasco " 

 as " in no case were the diviners able to show any justification for' 

 their contention that they could discover such deposits." The fol- 

 lowing memorandum, sent me by Sir John Cadman, describes this 

 instructive experiment. 



As a result of a request received in April, 1925, from two " Professional 

 Water Diviners " who hoped to be able to ascertain : 



"Area of the Oil Pool 



"Depth. — (Great accuracy in depth has been obtained in divining for water, 

 and it is hoped to apply the knowledge so obtained to oil.) It has not been 

 possible to test this thoroughly but we feel confident that this presents no 

 insurmountable difficulties. 



" Position. — We hope to be able to indicate the spots where the oil supply 

 is heaviest. 



" Quantity and quality. — Experiments up to date have shown a markedly 

 different reaction to varying quantities of oil. Exi)eriments with fats prove 

 that the spirit is the essential factor influencing the rod." 



BAPsRELS 



/ empty J 



Notsosfronoiys-Z''-^ Oeci&cdreacfton Decided reaction JD&cic^d reocf ion Slight react j on 

 Strongen thsn S eqvat to 4 less than 2r4; ^/tf^yS" 



FiGUBB 14. — Meadhurst oil experiments. Diviners' reports on lower lines 



I authorized the carrying out of a somewhat exhaustive test at our experi- 

 mental station at Meadhurst, Sudbury-on-Thames, with the following result : 



They having claimed to be able to detect hidden deposits of oil and to give 

 an indication of its amount and of the richness of its petrol content, I had two 

 series of tests prepared. 



For one (fig. 14) a series of five steel 50-gallon drums were set out. One of 

 these contained water, one petrol, and three were empty. 



For the other test (fig. 15) eight deposits were buried about 12 inches deep 

 in the paddock. Three of these deposits were oil contained in tins (4 gallons 

 crude, 4 gallons petrol, and 1 gallon petrol, respectively). These quantities 

 were chosen (as in the "barrel" series) to test the claims that the location, 

 quantity, and petrol content of deposits could be detected. In order to parry 

 the possibility of an objection that a metal container might neutralize their 

 efforts two further deposits (gas oil and crude oil) were laid down without 

 any container. Finally, to obviate any betrayal of the locality by traces of 

 surface disturbance three other deposits of tins containing no oil were laid down 

 and special care was taken to render the surface identical in appearance with 

 the surrounding ground. 



24034—29- 



-23 



