Proceedings of the Faf.mers' Club. 455 



Cisterns and Filters. 



Mrs. A. G. Robinson, jSTortli Nassau, K. T., asks advice in relation 

 to cisterns and filtcTS. 



Mr. J. B. Lyman. — In Louisiana, where rain or the muddy water 

 of the Mississippi is the universal fluid, a filter is used made of a 

 peculiar kind of stone, a variety of sandstone. The housekeepers 

 usually have two cisterns, one of which is filled with a winter rain, 

 this is used for drinking and cooking ; the other, filled by early sum- 

 mer showers is used for washing and bathing. The best way of 

 making a cistern is to divide it with a partition, near the bottom of 

 which is a box filled Avith a mixture of sand, gravel, stones and char- 

 coal. The water is forced through this filter by the pressure. As to 

 the best material for underground cisterns, much depends on the soil 

 and situation. All things considered, it is doubtful whether wood is 

 not the best material. It cuts ofi" all communication of the water of 

 the cistern with water in the earth. It is easily cleaned, is not costly, 

 can easily be renewed, and made of the best timber lasts from fifteen 

 to twenty years. But the wood should be boiled first, and if treated 

 with a coat of copperas water moss may be prevented. No matter 

 what material is used, a filter of successive layers of charcoal, gravel 

 and sand cannot be dispensed with if first-class water is the object. 



Mr. Ward Bullard, Weybridge, Yt. — Mr. Whitney does not, in 

 my opinion, give the best answer to the question, "What is the 

 cheapest and best remedy to purify cistern water, and keep it from 

 stagnating and smelling in warm weather?" I would say, let your 

 spoilt run to the hottom. of the cistern. You will then have new water 

 every time it rains. The old water will be buoyed or borne up and 

 thrown off". Sometimes a single rain will throw ofi" all the old water 

 and give entirely new. If you have any doubt of this, fill a pail 

 with water, run a tube to the bottom of it, and by means of a tunnel 

 turn more water into it by way of the tube, and you will see that the 

 water you turn into the tube will go to the bottom of the pail, and 

 the water you put in first M'ill be thrown off. 



DpwUning Tiles. 

 A Xorth Carolina correspondent wrote to solicit information about 

 tiling land for farm purposes, such as size of tiles required, depth to 

 place them, and what distance ajDart ; also what is the best make of 

 tile for that purpose, and any other suggestions that might be usefuL. 

 The lands are, in part, heavy clay and sandy loam. 



