188 FORESTS, WOODS, AND TREES 
when the rains come, inadequately stored water is drawn 
for purposes of filtration, and at the same time the filters 
may not be working efficiently from one cause or another. 
The degree of safety conferred by storage and filtration is 
after all a debatable matter. The results of analyses show 
that not unfrequently the raw waters from the Entwistle, 
Heaton, and High Rid reservoirs are polluted and unsafe. 
After heavy rains, when the waters have received the 
washings from manured fields and slop-water from human 
dwellings, the organisms present therein have reached 
several thousands per cubic centimetre, notwithstanding that 
such waters were stored previous to being drawn for use. 
The policy of the Corporation in abandoning farms and 
closing all human habitations on the watersheds supplying 
domestic water is fully justified.” 
Some years ago experimental plantations were made on 
the Belmont watershed by the Corporation ; but after the 
expenditure of large sums of money the venture was not 
successful, notwithstanding that in the selection of the 
species and in the mode of planting expert advice had been 
obtained. In October and December 1912 Mr. Lewis 
Mitchell wrote two reports on a conjoint scheme of the 
Liverpool and Bolton Corporations for the afforestation of 
6000 acres on the Rivington, Belmont, and Entwistle 
catchment areas, provided that the assistance of the 
Development Commissioners could be obtained. The latter 
sent two experts to examine the watersheds; and after 
inspecting the growing timber in the district, of which there 
is very little, they were decidedly of opinion that the scheme 
of afforestation, if undertaken, would not be successful from 
a commercial point of view, and the matter was sub- 
sequently allowed to drop. 
Heywood and Middleton Water Board obtain their water 
supply from (1) Naden Brook, with a gathering ground of 
1250 acres, between 724 and 1500 feet elevation; and 
(2) Ashworth Moor, gathering ground of 1380 acres, 
between 926 and 1468 feet elevation. The whole of the 
