322 AGRICULTUEAL REPORT. 



thinking barbarity inflicted on tbcm through their much-suffering mother?. 

 And many blooming maidens and useful "wives are now " under the clods of 

 the valley" because of colds caught by running out in th6 bleak •Windsor 

 frosty air for a pail of ■water •while over-heated. And even the parsimony 

 •which required these sacrifices has been pained to the very bottom of the 

 purse by the reflection that the doctor's and undertaker's bills, to say noth- 

 ing of the loss of valuable services, •would liave far more than paid all the 

 cost of conducting the •water to -where it -was needed for use from spring, 

 "Well, or other reservoir. 



But "n-hether spring, "well, or cistern be employed, examine them often and 

 carefully, and especially each spring and fall, and have them thoroughly 

 cleansed "when needed. 



WATER PIPKS. 



Due care and caution should be used in the selection nnd use of pipes for 

 conveying and distributing "water to the buildings. Where suitable timber ie 

 cheap, the large pipes (or mains) may be most easily and cheaply made of logs. 

 Iron is probably the next in cheapness in some sections. Earthen mains, "when 

 properly vitrified (hard-burnt and glazed) are sometimes preferred. And for 

 distributing pipes, "ft'here zinc or tinned pipes cannot be afforded, lead ia the most 

 common material — and against the action of vegetable matter, and of some 

 kinds of "water, on this mineral, the utmost caution should be used. Some 

 "water, as the Schuylkill, Avhich sujjplies Philadelphia, contains an element Avhich 

 forms on the inside of the pipe a film "which is absolutely impervious by the 

 "water, and protects the lead against all corrosion or chemical change. And in 

 cities and large towns, where the water is kept running almost incessantly, 

 . time is not allowed for chemical action on the lead, where the same water, 

 through the same pipes, would produce speedy sickness in a farm-house. It is 

 •water stagnant in a lead pipe which causes mischief, so that every faucet 

 should be allowed to run the water waste for at least one minute the first thing 

 in the morning, especially in the kitchen. Comparatively little harm would 

 result under ordinary circumstances if, while the leaden pipes arc laid, the most 

 special care should be taken as to these points : 



Allow no angles in the pipes. 



Let every piece of pipe which is horizontal lie perfectly straight. 



Have all curves as large as possible. 



Have no indentation on the outside of the pipe for this may cause a projection 

 on the inside. 



Be at great pains that no pebble or other thing shall be left in the pipe at 

 the time of its being laid. 



In all cases (if alone to prevent clogging and unclcannoss) have a suitable 

 screen or coarse woollen filter placed at the point where the spring enters the 

 pipes or where the rain water from the roofs pours into the pipes by which it 

 enters the cistern, so as to exclude all moss, leaves, insects, or other matter 

 liable to decomposition. 



All these look to one point — that is, the prevention of any sediment lodging 

 at anyone point, for where this occurs there. will be found the elements of cor- 

 rosion and chemical change from which the poison comes. 



KITCHEN. 



All persons of cultivation and refinement must instinctively shrink from 

 cooking in the dark. Hence, it should be arranged that this department should 

 have all the daylight possible, and also that the "back-yard," as it is called, 

 and which is usually in the rear of the kitchen, should have the advantage of 

 abundant sunshine, so as to keep it dry and healthful. 



