WELLS, PUMPS, CISTERNS, FILTERS. 115 



carefully and a number of holes are bored through 

 it with a half -inch auger, then five or six oaken blocks, 

 about three inches long, are nailed to the under side. 

 It is then placed in the barrel for a false bottom. 

 On this spread a layer of coarse gravel about two 

 inches thick, then another of finer gravel ; on this 

 spread eight inches of charcoal ; then add a six-inch 

 layer of gravel, and on top place washed sand up to 

 within an inch of the overflow pipe. Over this sand fit 

 in the barrel a cover made of inch pine boards. In the 

 center af this cut an opening ten inches square. Then 

 make a low frame a little larger than the opening, cover 

 both sides with cheese cloth, and fasten securely over the 

 open space in the head, but in such a manner that it can 

 be easily removed again. The object of this covering 

 being to prevent sand from escaping into the cistern, it 

 becomes sometimes necessary, after heavy rains, to take 

 up the frame and wash the cloth. 



The rain water flows into the barrel through a pipe 

 between the real and the false bottom. About four feet 

 above the cask the leader from the roof should enter a 

 tin box, with a partition in the middle that comes within 

 about two inches of the top. This partition separates 

 the pipe that flows into the cask from the waste pipe, 

 and the leader from the roof can be made to discharge on 

 either side, as may be desired. Near the bottom 

 of the barrel should be a large faucet or bung-hole, 

 through which all the water may be drawn off and 

 the filter cleaned. By pulling out the bung or opening 

 the faucet, and, after the water has run out, pouring 

 several bucketfuls of water on the sand at the top, all 

 impurities are washed out and carried off ; in fact, it is 

 best to let out the water after every rain. If this filter 

 is well made, and the cask painted, it will last many 

 years and do good service. 



