8 Jan., 1908.] .4 Clicap Condenser. 37 



A CHEAP CONDENSER. 



.4. S. Kciiyoii, C.Il., EiiiiiiH'cr for AgriciiIUtre. 



Although the experiments on which this article is based were made 

 some five years ago yet we have been so fortunate in our seasons since 

 that there has been so far no opportune moment for their publication. It 

 would have been much more pleasant to be able tO' keep this matter still 

 in hand ; but to the almost complete absence of tank filling rains during 

 the past winter and spring is due unfortunatelv something approaching 

 a water famine in the far interior of the Mallee Country. Advantage has 

 been taken of the good years to so extensively enlarge the distributipn 

 schemes of water supply serving the Mallee fringe that there are practically 

 no blocks beyond a reasonable distance from water. Stdl there are settlers 

 in beyond the fringe and there is a good deal of fine grazing country 

 which might be utdized if water were available. 



In most parts of the Mallee, water can be obtained by sinking to 

 depths generally under jog feet; but as a rule it is too salt fcr stock 

 consumption. 1 am unable to sav definitelv what is the limit of total 

 solids before the water becomes unfit for use. Sea water contains roughh- 

 5 O'Unces of salt and other depositing matters per gallon. This is certainly 

 too much j but stock have apparently thriven when feed was plentiful, 

 where the water was holding considerably over one ounce per gallon. 

 Food appears to be an influencing factor ; Init in any case it is surprising 

 what inferior water stock and even man may be trained to. Still in many 

 cases the water will be too salt even for our hardy stock to tackle. Theri 

 condensation, is the only remedy. Condensation has a bad name as many 

 attempts tO' condense salt supplies have proved costly and inefiicient. This 

 need not be so. Hereunder is given a description by INIr. J. Middleton, 

 Mechanical Engineer, of the Public Works Department, of a cheap outfit 

 designetl l)y him for the use of Mallee farmers. This plant was 

 erected l>v .\lr. J. Sutherland, of Tyrrell West, whose property is about 

 20 miles from Sea Lake and some few miles west of the northern extremitv 

 of Lake Tyrrell, a vast expanse of white salt in summer and a sheet of 

 salt water a few inches in depth in winter. Mr. Sutherland had struck 

 salt water, too salt for stock, in large supply at a depth of about 70 feet. 

 There was at the same time fresh water available at a distance of a little 

 over five miles by a good track in a tank at Daytrap on the northern shore 

 of the Lake. The actual experience gained from working was that con- 

 densing was more economical than carting that distance. This was a 

 rather surprising result as it was previously considered that carting, where 

 possible, was cheaper than condensing up to a limit of at least ten, and 

 probably fifteen miles. The condensing took up the time of one man, 

 drawing water from the well by windlass — no wdndmill being available — 

 cutting firewood and attending to the fire, the boiler and the condensing 

 pipes. The work was not laborious though the hours were necessarilv 

 long. On the other side there is a full team of horses — who themselves 

 require much water — and a man occupied for most of the day for about 

 tne same net result as far as regards water. The man condensing can 

 turn out between three and four hundred gallons per day, while the team 

 can cart, allowing for its own consumption, not much over five hundred. 

 On this experience, the settler contemplating condensing may estimate for 

 himself its comparative economy. A horse will when working consume as 



