for Agricultural Purposes. 
289 
Contents 
in gallons 
Diameter 
of tank 
Diameter of 
excavation 
Cubic yards 
in 
excavation 
Stanching, 
clay in 
cubic yards 
Bricks 
required 
Total cost 
2,269 
ft. in. 
6 10 
ft. in. 
9 0 
28 
55 
4.200 
£ s. d. 
8 6 2 
4,538 
9 8 
11 10 
49 
8 
6,100 
12 4 0 
6,807 
11 10 
14 
0 
68 
101 
7,900 
15 17 4 
9,076 
13 
8 
15 10 
87 
12* 
9,600 
19 7 0 
11,345 
15 
3 
17 
5 
106 
14 
1 1,000 
22 5 4 
13,614 
16 
8 
18 10 
124 
15^ 
12,400 
13,700 
25 3 6 
15,883 
18 
0 
20 2 
140 
174 
27 17 0 
18,152 
19 
4 
21 
6 
161 
19 
15,100 
30 16 3 
20,421 
20 
5 
22 
7 
180 
203 
16,500 
33 15 0 
22,690 
21 
7 
23 
9 
199 
22 
17,900 
36 13 0 
Tanks for the collection and storage of pure rain-water to 
serve as drink for stock 1 appear to be very badly wanted in 
those districts where the soil itself impregnates the spring and 
drainage water with medicinal and in some cases poisonous 
properties. In 1862 there were several bad cases of splenic 
apoplexy on farms in the neighbourhood of Ilchester, Somerset, 
and lengthy reports were published from Professors Simonds, 
Buckman, and Voelcker in the Journal, Yol. XXIV., 1st 
Series (1863). One paragraph in the late Dr. Yoelcker’s report 
was as follows : — 
There can be no question that in a lias district there are materials in the 
waters having a tendency to produce disease ; whether it be splenic apoplexy, 
scouring, or some other affection I cannot say ; but that such water cannot 
be drunk with impunity is certain. 
In another report on the same subject Dr. Yoelcker sug- 
gested that “ it is highly advisable to cut off the supply of hard 
lias springs and to provide cattle with soft drinking water,” 
and also that “ rain-water tanks for the supply of soft water should 
be constructed in localities where cattle are obliged to drink 
hard waters that rise in the lias clay.” 
Conclusion. 
Irrigation, water storage, and the provision of pure drinking 
water for stock are all old, time-honoured practices, and it is 
certainly noteworthy that the great Bacon’s ideas on the theory 
of the former were quite as sound as any propounded to-day. 
He recognised the truth that the influences work beneficially in 
three different ways, for he said that “ meadow-watering acts, 
not only by supplying useful moisture to the grass, but likewise 
the water carries nourishment dissolved in it, and defends the 
roots from the effects of cold.” 
65 Benthal Road, Stoke Newington, N. JOSEPH DARBY. 
1 See, on this subject, Professor J. Wortley Axe’s paper on Water in Rela- 
tion to Health and, Disease. (Journal, Yol. IV,, 3rd. Series, No. 16, 1893, pp, 
7?6-760 .) — Ed, 
