738 



PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part III. 



unpleasant circumstance attendant upon this business is, the occasional breaking of a 

 rod in the hole, which sometimes creates a delay of many days, and an incalculably 

 labour in drawing up the lower portion. 



4492. JVhen the water is obtained in such quantities and of such quality as may be 

 required, the hole is dressed or finished by passing down it the diamond chisel (o) : this 

 is to make the side smooth previously to putting in the pipe. This chisel is attached to 

 rods, and to the handle, as before described ; and in its descent the workmen continually 

 walk round, by which the hole is made smooth and cylindrical. In the progress of the 

 boring, frequent veins of water are passed through ; but as these are small streams, and 

 perhaps impregnated with mineral substances, the operation is carried on until an 

 aperture is made into a main spring, which will flow up to the surface of the earth. 

 This must, of course, depend upon the level of its source, which, if in a neighbouring 

 hill, will frequently cause the water to rise up and produce a continued fountain. But 

 if the altitude of the distant spring happens to be below the level of the surface of the 

 ground where the boring is effected, it sometimes happens that a well of considerable 

 capacity is obliged to be dug down to that level, in order to form a reservoir, into which 

 the water may flow, and from which it must be raised by a pump : while, in the former 

 instance, a continued fountain may be obtained. Hence, it will always be a matter of 

 doubt, in level countries, whether water can be procured which would flow near to or 

 over the surface : if this cannot be effected, the process of boring will be of little or no 

 advantage, except as an experiment to ascertain the fact. 



4493. In order to keep the strata pure and uncontaminated with mineral springs, the 

 hole is cased for a considerable depth with a metallic pipe, about a quarter of an inch 

 smaller than the bore. This is generally made of tin (though sometimes of copper or 



^<l lead), in convenient lengths ; and as each length is let down, it is held by a 



^J\^f shoulder resting in a fork, while another length is soldered to it, by which 

 ^^m^ means a continued pipe is carried through the bore as far as may be found 

 I necessary, to exclude land-springs, and to prevent loose earth or sand from 

 ^^ falling in and choking the aperture. {Newton's Journal, vol. vi. p. 146.) 

 ! 4494. The manner of forcing down lengths of cast-iron pipe, after the bore is 



formed, is this : The pipe (Jig. 693. a) has a socket in its upper end, in which a 

 693 block of wood (6) is inserted. From this block a rod (c) extends up- 594 

 wards, upon which a weight (tZ) slides. To the weight (rf) cords are 

 attached, reaching to the top of the bore, where the workman al- 

 ternately raises the weight and lets it fall, which, by striking upon the 

 block (6), beats down the pipe by a succession of strokes ; and when 

 one length of pipe has by these means been forced down, another 

 length is introduced into the socket of the former. Another tool for 

 the same purpose (Jig. 694.) is formed like an acorn, the point of the 

 acorn strikes against the edge of the pipe, and by that means it is 

 forced down the bore. 

 4495. Wrought-iron, copj}er, tin, and lead pipes, are occasionally used for lining the 

 bore ; and as these are subject to bends and bruises, it is necessary to introduce tools 

 gg^ ^ for the purpose of straightening their sides. One of these 



tools {Jig. 695. a) is a bow, and is to be passed down the 

 inside of the pipe, in order to press out any dents. Another 

 tool for the same purpose (b) is a double bow, and may be 

 turned round in the pipe for the purpose of straightening it 

 all the way down. A pair of clams (c) is vised for turning 

 the pipe round in the hole while driving. 



4496. In raising pipes, it is necessary to introduce a tool 

 to the inside of the pipe, by which it will be ggg 

 held fast. The pine-apple stool for this pur- 

 pose (rf) has its surface cut like a rasp, which 

 passes easily down into the pipe, but catches as 

 it is drawn up, and by that means brings the 

 pipe with it. There is a spear for the same 

 purpose (fig. 696) which easily enters the pipe 

 by springing; at the ends of its prongs there 

 are forks which stick into the metal as it is 

 drawn up, and thereby raise it. 



4497. Mr. Goods suggests the employment of 

 long baskets vdth valves opening upward in 

 their bottoms, for the purpose of drawing water from these 

 wells when the water will not flow over the surface ; also 

 lift-pumps, with a succession of buckets, for the same pur- 

 pose. {Newton's Journal, vol, viii. p. 249.) 



