142 Experiment Station JReport, 



ON EXAMINATION OF DRINKING-WATER. 



One of the first requirements of success on a farm consists 

 in ample supply of a good water. Purity of the water 

 used, for drinking in particular, is of vital importance. 

 Cities and towns usually have their organizations for the sup- 

 ply of water, and they exact certain guarantees regarding 

 the quality furnished for their use. The farmer, living as a 

 rule more isolated on his farm, is in this respect largely left 

 to his own counsel. His chances for obtaining good water 

 from springs, and for protecting his wells against the access 

 of obnoxious matters by infiltrations and otherwise, are, in 

 the majority of cases, quite favorable, if intelligently turned 

 to account. 



A satisfactory supply of a good drinking-water depends, 

 in a controlling degree, on a judicious selection of the loca- 

 tion of the well designed for the use of the family and for 

 the live stock ; and on the personal attention bestowed, from 

 time to time, on the condition of the latter and its sur- 

 roundings. Wells may be badly located in the start, or may 

 become exposed to contamination by subsequent changes in 

 the surroundings. Good wells are liable to change for the 

 worse at any time, on account of circumstances too numer- 

 ous to state in this connection. To periodically ascertain 

 the exact condition of the well which supplies the wants of 

 the family and of the live stock, is a task which no farmer 

 can for any length of time discard, without incurring a seri- 

 ous risk in health and prosperity. The subject receives, 

 quite frequently, but little attention, on account of the fact 

 that the harmful qualities, which an apparently good water 

 may contain, are disguised, beyond recognition by the un- 

 aided senses. Certain delicate chemical tests, aided at times 

 by microscopical observations, are, in the majority of cases, 



