266 Traxsactio.xs of the Amkhwa.x Institute. 



bearded, as also English wheat, are not doing as well as I should like. 

 They seem to M'ant very rich ground to bring them to perfection. I 

 have about fifteen varieties growing that I will give you an account of 

 at another time. I will also make a report of an experiment I am 

 making with Swedish, Norway, Xew Brunswick, and surprise oats. 



Cisterns. 



Mr. J. F. Glosser, Altoona, Penn. — I wish to know the best mode 

 (»f building a cistern that will insure pure water by filtration. 



Mr. N. C. — Where the ground will permit, one should dig from 

 fifteen to twenty feet deep and six or eight feet across, and catch the 

 water in the winter, w^hicli will form a year's supply. A barrel filled 

 will charcoal will answer for a filter, or if caught at the above season 

 and during a long rain, taking care to let in onl}^ after the roof is well 

 washed oft', no filtering will be necessary. A cistern of this size is the 

 l)est; if it were thirty feet deep it would be better, because, if half 

 full, there would be a supply, and the water would be as cold as well 

 water. Fifteen feet deep will require two barrels of cement put on 

 the eartli. A brick arch should be turned over the top. When one 

 can dig only eight or ten feet deep on account of water coming in, 

 two should be dug, one smaller for the filter ; or there may be only 

 one and a filter of charcoal and sand for the w^ater to run through. 

 The best way is to dig in a dry time, so as to go deep, and a wall of 

 rough brick, cemented, may be built if the surface cannot be made 

 smooth for putting on the cement. For cooking, for stock, and even 

 for drinking, a cistern is better than most wells, and it does not 

 generally cost so much. It should be cleaned out once a year, and 

 there should be at least two. The roof that shelters stock during the 

 winter will catch water enough to last the year round. The great 

 <lefect of cisterns, as usually built, is their small capacity. It is not 

 necessary to have a mason to do the work. Any man with a little 

 ingenuit}^ can build one for himself. To plaster on the eartli it is 

 necessary to dig the wall smooth. For one barrel of cement, use 

 from two to three barrels of sand according to the strength of the 

 cement, mix M^ell and only about as fast as it is used. A trowel can 

 be bought for one dollar and fifty cents, and thus, at a small exjjense, 

 one can have a cistern as the result of his own labor. If it should 

 leak, put on another coat. Mason's work does not always stand. 

 We believe it a good deal better for a farmer and his boys to learn to 

 do such jubs themselves than to depend upon others, even though 



