2 58 
THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 
June, 1915 
It has been determined that the 
average family of ten persons (in- 
cluding servants) will use in their do- 
mestic life something like one hundred 
gallons per person per twenty-four 
hours. This of course includes water 
for all domestic purposes, such as 
cooking, laundry, flushing plumbing, 
etc. Now when one adds to this the 
water needed for washing cars, 
sprinkling lawns and gardens, feeding 
horses and stock, it might be quite 
fair to allow twice this estimated 
quantity. 
It would be still better to study 
the outside water requirements separ- 
ately and provide water for the par- 
ticular case in hand. When there is 
a swimming pool to be filled still 
other elements enter the problem. 
Sometimes the pool can be filled and 
continuously fed by a gravity source 
without pumping, but if the pool is a 
large one and pumping is required it is well 
to install a filter and use the water over 
and over again. 
A large out-of-doors pool requires enough 
water to make up for evaporation and per- 
haps a daily spraying of the surface to drive 
off leaves and other floating substances. 
Another most important element to be 
considered is the quality of the water to be 
used. This should be investigated with 
very great care, as many waters which look 
fine may be badly contaminated with 
sewage or other forms of filth. This is a 
question to be referred to a competent en- 
gineer who can recommend a chemist 
and bacteriologist equipped with such 
proper laboratory facilities as will enable 
him to make a careful and truthful report 
on samples submitted. The taking of 
samples, also, should be done by a person 
who understands the requirements and is 
provided with proper sampling appliances. 
The owner will then know from the chem- 
ist’s report the real character of the water 
to be used— its hardness, its chemical com- 
position and its bacterial content. 
To be sure the owner must be guided in 
the interpretation of the water analysis by 
his expert as there are many terms used 
which would convey little meaning to the 
layman. For example, “free ammonia” 
“albumenoid ammonia” or “chlorine” 
indicate to the chemist comparative data 
which enables him to give a reasonable 
value to the sample taken. 
If examinations are to be made of waters 
of some volume of flow or of a lake or pond 
it would require a series of tests to make an 
absolute decision. A single test might and 
probably would be misleading in one direc- 
tion or another. 
The bacterial analysis is the best check 
for sewage pollution. Thus, if the chemical 
tests lead one to suspect contamin- 
ation, the bacterial test will give a 
clear answer by showing the num- 
ber and nature of bacteria. 
The survey of the property ought 
to include such observations as would 
point out the possible sources of con- 
tamination. These in many cases can 
be done away with and the water 
protected. 
There are many ways of treating 
water so that if the only supply that 
can be used is found open to suspicion 
if can still be used with safety for 
drinking purposes. 
The most common method of treat- 
ing is some form of sand filtration 
either under gravity action or operat- 
ing with mechanical equipment. 
There are a number of filters on the 
market which give excellent results. 
The bone charcoal filter with alum 
coagulent is very efficient in brightening 
water and removing any tinge of color. 
Sometimes a well water which seems to the 
eye in a small glass or jar perfectly clear 
may develop fogginess when observed in a 
deep swimming pool. The charcoal filter 
will clear up such water wonderfully. Quite 
recently the ultra-violet ray has been used 
as a germ destroyer. This machine of 
course requires an electric current for its 
operation. It is successful only when the 
water is clear and does not act in any 
way to clarify muddy or turbid water, but 
only as a sterilizing agent. 
Liquid chlorine is also used in water 
purification, but mostly in public supplies. 
When during a long drought the water in 
a pond or lake takes on the unpleasant taste 
due to algae formation, this can be removed 
by a treatment with copper sulphate. 
Much information is to be had on this 
subject in state and Federal reports. 
The 
“New Irrigation” for the Small Garden 
By F. F. Rockwell, neclicut 
THE USE OF MODERN METHODS IN APPLYING WATER TO SMALL GARDENS BY MEANS 
OF SPECIAL APPLIANCES EASILY ADJUSTED, PERMANENT, AND OF MODERATE COST 
F ROM time to time there are 
changes in cultural meth- 
ods so radical that they 
demand new words or 
terms to describe them, such as the 
“dust mulch,” “dry farming,” 
“dry spraying” and so forth. 
Within the last few years, no phase 
of garden work has undergone 
such radical development as that 
of applying water to growing crops. 
But no new term to describe this 
new method has been forthcoming. 
It is still called “irrigation”; but 
irrigation to the laymen, and to 
most gardeners, means something 
entirely different from this com- 
paratively new method of applying 
"Nozzle lines” supported on posts, either pipe or wood may be used at a height of 
six feet. Run the pipe lines at right angles to the rows 
water. Irrigation means the ap- 
plication of water to the growing 
crops for the purpose of stimulating 
growth, no matter by what method 
it is applied. But most people un- 
consciously associate it with mil- 
lion dollar reservoirs and canals in 
the arid districts of the West. By 
the new’er systems, however, a ten 
dollar bill may give you in your 
backyard garden, irrigation which 
will produce as wonderful results 
as any you have read about, and 
a much more perfect system of 
watering. 
In speaking of the advantages 
which an irrigating outfit at a 
reasonable cost offers the home 
