33 THE FARMER AT HOME. 



service in rotation ; and this is a most painful duty, as the only test 

 is the taste. The continued chewing of this pungent substance, 

 excoriates the mouth in spite of the utmost precaution. Experience 

 has shown, that the evil effects of the chewing is best alleviated by 

 occasionally eating bread and butter. 



CISTERN. Is properly used for a subterraneous reservoir of 

 rain-water. Earthen cisterns must be made with good cement, to 

 retain the water, and the bottom should be covered with sand to 

 sweeten and preserve it. Authors mention a cistern at Constantinople, 

 the vaults whereof are supported by two rows of pillars, two hundred 

 and twelve in each row, each pillar being two feet in diameter. 

 They are planted circularly, arid in radii tending to that in the 

 centre. 



Anciently there were cisterns all over the country in Palestine. 

 There were some likewise in cities and private houses. As the cities 

 for the most part were built on mountains, and the rains fell regularly 

 in Judea at two seasons of the year only, in spring and autumn, peo- 

 ple were obliged to keep water in cisterns in the country, for the use 

 of their cattle ; and in cities for the conveniency of the inhabitants. 

 There are cisterns of very large dimensions to be seen at this day in 

 Palestine, some of which are a hundred and fifty paces long, and 

 fifty-four wide. There is one to be seen at Ramah of two and thirty 

 paces in length, and eight and twenty in width. Wells and cisterns, 

 fountains and springs, are generally confounded in the Scripture 

 language. 



To farmers, not having springs or running water on their premises, 

 it is very important to be provided with cisterns. In seasons of drought, 

 especially, this will be a great convenience. On every farm with cus- 

 tomary barns and out buildings, it would be easy to fill cisterns con- 

 taining from two to three hundred hogsheads. In a single rain from 

 the dwelling-house alone, we have collected over twenty hogsheads. 

 Such is not a common occurrence. However, the quantity that may 

 be saved in the year is surprisingly large ; probably enough for a 

 stock of cattle, and for all domestic purposes, and even to water a 

 common garden, when suffering from want of summer rains. Most 

 of the materials for cisterns may be had on a farm, so that the expense 

 in making them is not great. Stones are as good as brick. They 

 will pay for themselves in a few years. 



CLARIFICATION. This is the separation, by chemical means, 

 of any liquid from substances suspended in it, and rendering it turbid. 

 If a difference can be made between clarification and filtration, it is, 

 that the latter is affected by mere mechanical means, but the former 

 either by heat or by certain additions, the action of which may be 

 considered as chiefly chemical. The liquors subjected to clarification 

 are almost without exception those animal or vegetable juices, in 

 which the matter that renders them turbid is so nearly of the same 



