536 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



drinking Avater. Tlie use of lead pipes for conducting the 

 latter for any of the above-named purposes should be decidedly 

 discouraged. 



The most frequent source of danger comes, evidentl}^ from 

 the presence of organic matter, indicating contamination by de- 

 caying animal and vegetable substances. Wells are not infre- 

 quently found polluted by the gases and liquids emanating 

 from sinks, privies, cesspools or barnyards, when apparent con- 

 ditions would seem to render it impossible. 



Attention has already been called to this important matter in 

 a previous report ; for one of the first requirements of success 

 on a farm consists in an ample suppl}' of good water. Cities 

 and towns usually have their organizations for the supply of 

 water, and they exact certain guarantees regarding the quality 

 furnished for their use. The fiirmer, living as a rule more 

 isolated, is in this respect largely left to his own counsel. 

 Much has been written on this subject ; yet, as the necessity 

 for constant warning still remains, a restatement of certain 

 facts cannot fail to assist in keeping the subject here under 

 consideration prominently before all parties concerned. The 

 above-recorded analyses have been made according to Wanck- 

 lyn's process, familiar to chemists, and are directed toward 

 the indication of the presence of chlorine, free and albuminoid 

 ammonia, and the poisonous metals. (For a more detailed 

 description of this method see Water Analysis, by J. A. 

 Wancklyn and E. T. Chapman.) 



The hardness was determined by Frankland's method. (See 

 Frankland's Water Analyses, page 29.) 



The presence of chlorine indicates contamination from sinks, 

 privies or sewers, since it occurs abundantly in urinary secre- 

 tions ; but it may be derived from other and less harmful 

 sources, as saline waters, which the test fails to indicate. One 

 conclusion is, however, safe, — a water which contains no chlo- 

 rine is uncontaminated by sewerage. "Free" and " albumi- 

 noid " ammonia are forms in which organic matter is recognized. 

 Ammonia existing as such in water is termed " free." This 

 being expelled by distillation, the nitrogen-containing organic 

 matter remaining is reduced to ammonia by chemical agencies, 

 and this secondary product is called " albuminoid ammonia." 



The per cent, of tottd solids is obtained l)y evaporating a 



