434 



NATURE S TEACHINGS. 



is always latent somewhere beneath the surface of the earth, 

 and, if a tube can be driven deep enough, the water will come 

 up it. 



The accompanying illustration shows the Artesian Well and 

 Norton's Tube, and their similitude in principle, the tube pene- 

 trating through various layers of soil, until it reaches the 

 water which it seeks. 



Then there is another way by which water can be made to 

 force itself to a considerable height. Not being much of a 

 mathematician, I do not recollect the exact proportional 

 height to which a stream of water may raise itself, but if any 

 one can secure a fall of some eight or ten feet, he can furnish 

 his house with water by means of the "Ram," a chart of 

 which is shown in the illustration. 



The principle of the Ram is, that the water is allowed to 

 flow down a tube, when it meets with a valve. This valve is 



SPOUT-HOLE. 



WATER-RAM. 



suddenly closed by the pressure, and the water is forced 

 onwards by the shock. Much water escapes at each blow of 

 the valve, but that does not signify. 



The force of water thus suddenly stopped is hardly appre- 

 ciated. Even in ordinary houses the sudden turning of a 

 water-tap has been known to. burst the pipe and deluge the 

 house with water. 



In Nature a similar effect is produced, called popularly the 

 Spout-hole." 



