310 THE FARMERY. [Chap. III. 



334. Value of Cisterns— Ihcir Size and Contents. — Xo man, whose only sujj- 

 ply of -water is in a deep well, or where the well or spring water, however 

 convenient, is hard — that is, like all tlic water of limestone countries, nnfit 

 for washing, or making butter — can ati'ord to do without a cistern. If the 

 ?arth where the cistern is to be built is compact clay, it can be dug out in 

 the form of a jug, with only a man-hole at the top; and in all ground but 

 caving sand it can be dug and j)lastered without any brick walls, and the 

 top covered with durable timber, which should be i)Iaccd at least four feet 

 from the surface to its under side, as it will, when thus covered, last enough 

 longer to pay for the extra work. Wherever flat stones abound, a moderate- 

 sized cistern should bo covered with them, laid shelving over each way, if 

 not large enough to reach clear across. The earth-bottom and walls are 

 easily made tight by cement (water-lime mortar), made with three ])arts of 

 clean, coarse, sharp sand to one of lime, which has to be wet up only as it 

 is wanted for use, or it M'ill set wherever it has a chance to dry upon the 

 bed where mixed. It should be very thoroughly worked in, mixing while 

 pretty M-et, and plastered on the bottom first and tlien up the sides, one coat 

 after another as fast as one is dry — two or three coats — taking care that no 

 defect is made in the joining of the sides and bottom together. The bottom 

 should be dug hollowing, and corners full ; and to save cement, any little in- 

 orpialities in the walls may be filled with clay or lime-mortar before putting on 

 the cement plaster. In situations where cement can not be obtained, a good 

 cistern can be made as tbllows, which will last a dozen years certain. We 

 know one good at twenty years old. Take one and a half-inch plank, six or 

 eight feet long, six inches wide at one end and six and a quarter at the other ; 

 joint and dowel the edges, and fit the ends Avith a croze upon heads six or 

 eight feet across, and hoop just enough to keep together to roll into the hole, 

 biggest end down, upon a soft mortar bed of clay, four inches deep ; then 

 fill the space between the tub and walls, which should be four or six inches 

 wide, with clay just moist enough to tamp in the most compact manner, 

 and the cistern will never leak, and will give great satisfaction for its small 

 cost. The top should be covered over with timber and earth, deep enough to 

 keep warm in winter and cool in summer. 



Upon the roof of a barn 35 by TO feet — if three feet of rain fall annually 

 — three ciibic feet of water will be afl:'orded by every square foot of surface — 

 more than 7,000 cubic feet from the whole roof — which would be about 

 1,700 barrels. This would be enough to water daily, the year through, thir- 

 teen head of cattle, each animal drinking four twelve-quart pails full per day. 

 But if the water were reserved for the dry season only, or when small streams 

 are dry, thirty or fortj' head might be watered from one roof. 



People are apt to make their cisterns too small, so that often they do not 

 hold a tenth part of the water from the eaves. In tlie above-mentioned 

 instance it would not be necessary to construct one large enough to hold the 

 entire 1,700 barrels. If the cattle were watered from it the year round, and 

 its contents thus constantly drawn as it fills, one large enough to hold 400 



