yaw Experiments made upon vib 
hard waters ; whilst the waters that occur in the grauwacké, or 
the siliceous and argillaceous rocks, particularly those on the 
north side of the river, are perfectly soft, more pellucid, and 
better tasted. 
An intelligent friend who resides at Black Rock, lately in- 
formed me that the want of soft water was much felt in that 
neighbourhood ; and that a sufficient supply, especially in dry 
seasons, could only be obtained with difficulty and at a consi- 
derable expense. To obviate the inconveniences which in those 
respects were felt by a family of my acquaintance, I recom- 
mended the use of a little potash or soda in the water, from ay 
idea that its hardness arose from the presence of an earthy salt, 
and that the addition of an alkali would separate the earthy 
matter, and render the water soft. This suggestion was imme- 
diately adopted, and potash is still employed, with perfect suc- 
cess, to produce the desired effect. ‘ 
It occurred to me, that a chemical examination of the water 
at Black Rock might probably lead to some simple modes of 
obviating its hardness, and making it more generally applicable 
to domestic uses. With these views I undertook some experi- 
ments upon it; and I am not without hopes that the result of 
my investigation will be of some utility, not only to the inhabi- 
tants of that district, but also to those in other parts of the coun- 
try where limestone prevails, and imparts to the waters that flow 
through it, those peculiarities that distinguish the water at Black 
Rock. 
The Black Rock water I examined, was procured at different 
times from a deep well in the village of Ballintemple, about a 
mile and half from Cork, and two hundred paces from the river. 
The village is situated on secondary limestone. ‘I do not know 
the extent of the limestone district in this part of the county, 
but I understand it reaches in an easterly and westerly direction, 
with little or no interruption, a distance of many leagues, anid 
abounds, in many places at least, with a variety of organic re- 
mains, some of whieh are rather novel and curious. 
Though I have not made an accurate cheivical analysis of the 
water in question, I presume my experiments will be found suf- 
ficiently minute for practical purpeses. 1 purpose briefly to 
notice the effects of different chemical agents upon the water ; 
—to point out the causes of its hardness ;—and to deduce from 
facts and experiments, some simple, and I trust efficient modes 
of rendering it more subservient to the common purposes of life. 
1, As soon as the water was taken from the well, it was put 
into bottles or stone jars, well corked, and usually examined im- 
mediately on its arrival in Cork, The water, on being drunk 
fresh from the pump, is said to be rather brisk and pleasant, 
oth - though 
