Queries and Answers. 501 



earth, and from snow, rain, and other condensations of water from the 

 atmosphere. On these last resources, land springs depend for their exist- 

 ence and supply. What is not quickly carried away by rivers, brooks, and 

 drains, sinks into the earth ; but, being intercepted in its downward 

 course, by horizontally placed strata of rock or clay, reposes thereon, and 

 from there gradually oozes away at the lowest point of the impervious bed 

 which prevented its sinking perpendicularly. Any shaft or opening sunk 

 into this bed readily admits a flow into it from the saturated soil around, 

 which is then easily obtainable by the pump or bucket. Water, so pro- 

 cured, always partakes more or less of the predominating qualities of the 

 soil through which it percolates. Hence the different mineral springs ; 

 and hence the various degrees of brackishness, commonly called hardness, 

 of domestic wells. 



Main springs are sometimes seen gushing out from the sides, but much 

 more frequently from the bases of high hills. Sometimes they are reached 

 by the common well-digger; but, in general they are located at a depth far 

 beyond his reach by any ordinary means. The water of main springs is 

 known by its high temperature ; this being always more or less, according 

 to the depth from which they flow : those nearest the surface are about 

 42° Fahr., increasing to 56° or more. They are also known by their qua- 

 lity j being, in almost all cases, freer from impregnation of salts, and are 

 consequently called soft water. 



Whether the main springs are supplied from the same sources as the 

 land springs, and that they are less impregnated with salts or other quali- 

 ties, in consequence of their receiving greater filtration in their passage 

 to the depths at which they are found, is a question deserving consider- 

 ation. But that they do possess the qualities of high temperature and 

 purity is undeniable, and with these qualities water is invaluable. For the 

 kitchen, sideboard, dairy, and still-room, how necessary ; in the bath and 

 dressing-room, how convenient ; in the brewhouse, how suitable ; and, in 

 the laundry, how profitable ! To the gardener it is a useful auxiliary, and 

 to the dyer, &c, most important. In short, the art of forming fountain 

 wells, by which may be gained a constant supply of soft water, without 

 labour or expensive machinery, presents extensive benefits, which are not 

 yet even apprehended. At present, we are still ignorant how high such 

 fountains may be carried above the surface of the earth ; and how copious 

 such jets may prove. The ascent of water from such considerable depths 

 is, in itself, a mystery. When the auger is passed down into a subterra- 

 nean current or reservoir in a valley, and the water flows up, it is ac- 

 counted for by saying that the outlet is below the principal source. But 

 when such perforations are made on the highest ground, and where there 

 appears no inclination or fall of surface to the spot, it is difficult to ac- 

 count rationally for such a phenomenon. The natural law for water finding 

 its own level does not, apparently, apply. Is it the pressure of the at- 

 mosphere ? the subsidence of the superposited earth ? Is it from the 

 expansive power of subterranean heat, or from the temperature of water 

 itself? or what ? — M. Chelsea, Jan. 1829. 



Lilium Martagon. — This plant never produces petals with me, though 

 three or four other species of jLilium, growing in the same soil (a strong 

 loam) and situation, do. The stamens and anthers are large, fleshy, and 

 green ; and, instead of petals, I can see nothing but very minute green 

 scales. Is this a common case, and is it to be cured ? If so, how ? — 

 John Trotter. Fulham, June, 1832. 



What are the best Means of preventing the Dry Hot in Oak Timber ? — It 

 appears from the newspapers that government has advertised for 10,000 loads 

 of oak timber for ship-building, and that some gentleman (I believe, at 

 Portsmouth) has written an essay to prove that the government ought 

 always to stipulate for its being winter-felled, although they would in that 



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