334 LESSONS IN AGRICULTURE 



3. Wells. If wells are on a lower level than the barns 

 or outhouses, they are likely to contain water with the 

 dangerous bacteria in it. If any surface water can drain 

 into the well it renders the water impure and unfit to 

 drink. The land should not slope to the well from any 

 house or barn, and the well cover should be perfectly 

 tight to prevent animals from getting into it. 



Good rules for drinking water. 1. If there is any 

 doubt about the purity of drinking water it should be 

 boiled. 



2. Allow no standing water about the farm premises, 

 for it may be the source of contamination for the drink- 

 ing water. 



3. Do not drink out of the cup at public drinking 

 places, nor from the common cup or dipper often used 

 in the schoolroom, for many disease germs are carried 

 from one mouth to another, through the common drink- 

 ing vessel. Pupils should have their own individual 

 drinking cups. 



4. Always have clean fresh water for the farm ani- 

 mals, for their health and growth depends as much on 

 the water supply as does our own. 



Practical Exercises 

 1. Simple Tests of Water 



If this lesson is given in a school that has the material 

 named, the following tests will prove interesting and val- 

 uable : 



1. Test for animal or plant matter : 

 Pill a clean test-tube half full of the drinking water. 

 Add a drop or two of concentrated sulphuric acid, and 



