546 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOOLLTY. 



A complaint was made of the water from the pond havmg done injury 

 to plants, the roots appearing to be burnt up. The length of piping- 

 was about 600 yards. I made an analysis of the water taken direci. 

 from the pond, but without ascertaining anything that would clearly 

 account for the injury. The water contained 20.72 grains to the gallon 

 of total solids, but there was no excess of chlorides, vegetable matter, 

 or other constituents that might be harmful, and the water was not 

 sufficiently hard to do injury on this account. 



In another sample sent to me which had Been standing, in the 

 pipes, I found some amount of reddish suspended matter, this being 

 due doubtless to iron compounds. I suggested a trial being made 

 with the water taken direct from the pond, and it was found that plants 

 watered in this \Yay did perfectly well. I could therefore only account 

 for the fact of the injury done by the water after passing through the 

 pipes, to the action of the water upon the galvanized iron. 



(c) A sample of water was sent me from a well n€,ar Rugby to 

 report upon its suitability for drinking and domestic purposes. This 

 water was found to be extremely hard, containing as much as 98 grains 

 to the gallon oi total solids, these consisting mainly of lime and magnesia 

 salts. Such a water is clearly unsuitable for a general domestic supply. 



(d) A sample of water was sent me for analysis from some 

 nurseries, and together with this were forwarded some vine leaves 

 which had a distinct deposit on their surface. It was desired to know 

 whether there was any connexion between the water and the deposit 

 on the leaves. The water was .analysed, with the result that it was 

 found to contain about 45 grains of total solid residue to the gallon. 

 It was not- a pure water, but evidently contained drainage products, 

 possibly from heavily manured land. The deposit on the leaves was 

 also examined, but proved to be purely of fungoid nature, and there 

 was no direct connexion between the water and the existence of the 

 deposit on the leaves. 



Drainage Waters. — Two samples called " Manure water " were 

 sent to me in order to determine whether they had to do with injury 

 to plants for which they had been used. The drainage waters in 

 question, it appeared, came from the stable-yard, being conveyed by 

 ordinary drain-pipes into a wooden tub, from which they were applied 

 to the plants. 



Specimens of pelargonium plants were sent me, the leaves of which 

 had turned completely yellow, the plants looking quite burnt up. It 

 was stated that all plants that had been watered with the drainage 

 matter had been similarly affected. 



My examination of the samples showed that they both of them 

 contained large amounts of arsenic in solution, thus accounting for 

 the injury done to the plants. I made further inquiries as to how the 

 presence of the arsenic could be accounted for, and more especially 

 whether possibly a weed-killer had been used on the paths, and so 

 found its way into the yard. No definite information, however, on 

 these points was obtainable. 



