4ifl THE FARMER AT HOME. 



imbedded in pult, with membraneous fibres running through it. In 

 the East Indies the pulp is either dried in the sun, and used for home 

 consumption, or with salt added, it is dried in copper ovens ; this kind 

 is that sent to Europe and this country. This sort, called natural 

 tamarinds, is much darker and drier than the West Indian, which 

 are called prepared tamarinds. The West Indian tamarinds reach 

 maturity in June, July, and August, when they are collected, and the 

 shell being removed, they are put into jars, either with layers of sugar 

 put between them, or boiling syrup poured over them, which pene- 

 trates to the bottom. Prepared tamarinds therefore possess much 

 more saccharine matter than others. 



TANKS. The importance of collecting rain-water for domestic 

 purposes, especially in districts where springs are deficient or lie at a 

 great depth, has been much overlooked in our country. Mr. 

 Waistell, an English gentleman, urges, in a forcible manner, the 

 importance of placing spouts round all the buildings of a farm to col- 

 lect the rain-water which falls upon them into a tank or tanks ; 

 observing that, besides the value of the supply of water thus obtained, 

 the buildings w r ill be benefited by the walls and foundations being 

 kept drier than when the water from the roof is suffered to fall upon 

 them. He states that the quantity of water that falls annually upon 

 every hundred superficial or square feet is about fourteen hundred 

 gallons. Upon this calculation a dwelling house thirty by forty feet 

 and a barn fifty by thirty, a horse stable and carriage house twenty by 

 twenty-five feet, a corn house twelve by eighteen feet, and a moderate 

 sized shed, will catch in the year fifty thousand gallons, affording a 

 constant supply of more than four barrels for each day in the year. 



Most farmers might make arrangements for a much greater quan- 

 tity. This would certainly be an easy method of supplying a stock of 

 cattle as well as a family with all the water needed, if the wells w r ere 

 deficient, or there were on the premises no living springs. The expense 

 of tanks or cisterns, independent of the labor furnished by each far- 

 mer for himself, would be inconsiderable. Most farmers have an 

 abundance of small stones, as good or better than brick, so that money 

 would have to be paid aut only for the cement and mason work. If 

 made below the surface of the ground, the water would be kept cool 

 and fresh, and might be placed wherever most convenient, and not be 

 in the way of any thing else. Rain-water thus kept, when filtered, 

 is as good for any family purpose as the best of well or spring water. 

 They should be of circular form, because that is more firm and 

 unyielding against external pressure, with an arch at the top, and an 

 opening just sufficient to admit a man to enter, in case cleansing or 

 repairs are required. 



TANNIN. A vegetable extract which combines with animal 

 gelatine, forming a tough substance, and hence its use in converting 

 skins into leather. Oak bark, and Leicester willow, yields one-six- 



