Securities against Jfire, fyc. 293 



But although another very important article on the same subject 

 will call for attention before we conclude, yet as it will be of some 

 length from having two incidental circumstances of a more general 

 nature connected with it; we shall pass at present to three separate 

 articles, which regard a different topic; namely, applies of water, 

 which of course may be noticed here as belonging to my original pa- 

 per. I proceed therefore as follows. 



8, Article. Since my original paper was printed, I have met with 

 the following passage in Earl Dundonald's Treatise on the intimate 

 connection between agriculture and chemistry ; which will be read 

 with pleasure ; for although it contains little not referred to by myself, 

 yet the statements and hints of an author of some note, will of course 

 be more valued than those of an anonymous Writer. 



"It has been neglected by me, (says Lord Dundonald.) under the 

 article Peat and Peat Masses, to slate, that their waters are very in- 

 jurious to cattle : — and that such defects may be remedied by collect- 

 ing the rain water that may fall on the roofs of the dwelling houses 

 and offices, in tanks, properly constructed, and having no communi- 

 cation with the soil. 



" Should not the buildings be conveniently placed for affording the 

 cattle a supply of water from the tank, or should the extent of such 

 be insufficient to collect the quantity of water that maybe required; 

 sheds or hovels, covered with tile, should be erected in a central field, 

 conveniently situated for securing to the cattle their daily supply. 

 A further benefit will ensue by the shelter and protection that such 

 sheds or hovels will afford the cattle. 



" This method of collecting rain water, (and which is practised in 

 many countries,) may with great advantage be adopted in the upland, 

 chalky, or gravelly soils ; or in the marshes near the sea-shore, where 

 the springs either are at a great depth, or where the water is brack- 

 ish. In upland countries, water may be collected into tanks in great 

 abundance, during the rainy seasons, by leading the surface water 

 into such receptacles, without increasing the expense of sheds or 

 hovels. But in fens, morasses, peat mosses and marshes, or flat 

 grounds, where the soil is full of vegetable or animal matters, or 

 where the water is brackish, a supply of water can be obtained only 

 by the assistance of the roofs above mentioned." So far Lord 

 Dundonald. (See his edition of 1803, addenda, pp. 241, 242.) 



I cannot omit repeating here, for the sake of horticulturalists of all 

 descriptions, that by collecting rain water in a garden by means of a 



