404 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



improvements and what amount of knowledge might not have been realized for 

 Agriculture under the same favor of public opinion and equal expenditures of 

 Government, which have served to promote the growth and spread of knowledge 

 in respect of all other pursuits, and more especially of that one whose aim is to 

 kill the greatest number at the greatest distance, and with the greatest economy 

 of time and materials ! For is it not one of the greatest problems of the day and 

 the Government whether cotton may not be employed to destroy the human race 

 at less expense than saltpetre and brimstone ? 



CISTERNS. 



We are glad to lay our hands once more on the following. We lately said that no one 

 need want good drinking water who had roofs to their houses. These cisterns affoi'd the 

 best sort of drinking water, when iced ; and the quantity is surprising which the roof of a 

 dwelling house will supply. Here is proof that no one need want a supply of water in his 

 kitchen, and in his chamber for washing and bathing, at a comparatively small expense. 



We lately saw a cistern at Mr. Buck's in Hartford, Connecticut, which, we understood, 

 was made altogether of cement without any brick ; but what Doctor Jones has done, assu- 

 rance may be felt is thoroughly well done — he has that old English vay with him. 



J. S. Skinner, Esq. Washington, Sept. 16th, 1843. 



Bear Sir : I send you the following items respecting the dimensions, struc- 

 ture and cost of my rain-water cistern. It was dug 7 feet in diameter, and 10 

 feet deep, is paved with hard brick, laid in hydraulic cement ; is walled up with 

 a 4-inch wall, well bedded in hydraulic cement ; a thin grout of the same was 

 poured in between the bricks and the grouml, every four courses, so as to leave 

 no interstices. A perfect coat of cement is plastered over the whole interior. — 

 The top is formed of two flag stones, making a square of 7 feet. This is less 

 costly than a crown of brick-work, and takes nothuig from the interior of the 

 c-istern. One of the stones is perforated to admit a pump, and the opening con- 

 stitutes a man-hole, when it is desired to clean out the cistern. 



The following is the cost : 



Dig-ging ^ 8 on 



Brick, (hard) 1800 at $7 per M l-:2 CO 



41 bbls. of Cemeut at $2 9 00 



Bricklayer's Bill $16 68 



Flagging fortop $15; cutting hole $1.. 16 00 



Total $(j3 28 



1 admit the water through a cast iron pipe, about a foot below the top, but a tin 

 pipe passing through the flagijing would answer perfectly well. An' 

 opening ihesize of a half brick is left below the flagging, to discharge 

 the waste, and this is closed bv a gate to keep out" insects, &c. thus: 



A cistern of this size will contain about 1900 gallons, or 35 hogsheads at 54 

 gallons to the hogshead. Each foot in depth contains 190 galls, or 3? hlids. the 

 diameter being 6 feet 3 inches in the clear. One of 8 feet in the clear would 

 contain about 312 galls, or 5 4-5tli hhds. for every foot in depth. Should greater 

 capacity be required, make it deeper but no larger in diameter. 



A pump and lead pipe will cost about $12. 



I shall use two pumps, one in the yard and one in the kitchen ; the latter will 

 be a force-pump, to raise the water into a bath room in the third story of my 

 back building. 



Any other particulars which I can furnish will be cheerfully communicated by 



Youi-8 truly, THOS. P. JONES. 



To PRKVENT Harks and Rahrits from Barkino Trke.'.— Mix soot and milk until 

 the mixture acquires the consistfiicy of thick paint, and apply it with a paiiU brush, choosing 

 a dry day, if possible, for the operation : once a year is sullicient. 

 (S361 



