CISTERNS FOR FARM-BUILDINGS.—N. Y. STATE AG. SOCIETY. 
239 
larly those which prey upon our fruit-trees and 
field crops, is truly alarming. In a letter from Mr. 
B. V. French, of Braintree, Mass., he says, “I 
never recollect such a year for insects. We have 
multitudes of them, rose-bugs in particular.” In 
some recent excursions on Long Island, and else¬ 
where, we have uniformly observed that the foliage 
of the apple-trees is infested by myriads of plant- 
lice (Aphides,) which have already destroyed much 
of the foliage and fruit. The sprinkling of pow¬ 
dered quick-lime upon the leaves, when wet, it is 
said, will destroy them. 
(b ) Common salt, it is well known, has been 
employed from time immemorial for the destruction 
of vegetation, and producing complete sterility in a 
soil. Among Eastern nations, for a long period of 
time, when a conquered city was condemned to 
desolation, it was sown in large quantities among 
the ruins and their vicinity, proclaiming t^ie will 
of the destroyer, and announcing that the country 
should remain uninhabited, without cultivation, 
and devoted to eternal sterility. When applied in 
moderate quantities, to the roots of fruit-trees, 
growing in a rich soil, containing much dung, and 
animal or vegetable matters, salt undoubtedly as¬ 
sists vegetation, and destroys many kinds of living 
insects, such as snails, slugs, worms, &c.; but on 
poor soils, it is extremely injurious to vegetation, 
even in small quantities, and should never be used 
in large quantities, however rich the land may be. 
We think the quota used by Mr. Colt was too great; 
for the proportion of saltpetre was so small, that 
it could have done no injury to his trees, as this 
substance is known to have great effect in promot¬ 
ing vegetation, and is often employed in considera¬ 
ble quantities, as a steep for corn, wheat, and other 
grains. Its high price only precludes its use as a 
general manure. 
CISTERNS FOR FARM-BUILDINGS. 
Pure, wholesome water, as a constant beverage 
for man or animals, is essential to sound health. 
Its relative salubrity depends on the various animal, 
vegetable, or mineral particles, with which it may 
be impregnated, and the places whence it is pro¬ 
cured. The transparency or purity of that obtained 
from wells or springs, varies according to the strata 
of earth through which it percolates. The most 
wholesome fluid is derived from springs issuing 
from pure sand-stone or primitive rocks, or from 
sandy soils, principally composed of granite or 
quartz, where it has undergone a perfect filtration, 
^he water of lakes and ponds has similar properties 
m general, as that of rivers or brooks, but being 
less agitated, and containing more organic matter in 
a state of decomposition, it acquires a greater de¬ 
gree of impurity, and consequently is less fit for 
culinary use; though, on account of its softness, it 
may be employed with advantage for washing 
clothes. 
Rain-water collected in the vicinity of cities or 
populous towns, as well as in the neighborhood of 
marshes or mines, especially during summer, is 
always more or less impure. Therefore it should 
not be used, if it can be avoided, except for wash¬ 
ing linen, &c., or watering plants, unless it be puri¬ 
fied by filtration or other means. The fluid obtained 
by dissolving snow is somewhat purer; but of all 
natural waters, that obtained by melting hail is the 
most pure, as it contains fewer extraneous particles, 
in consequence of its congealing high in the air; so 
that it cannot combine with noxious ingredients 
during its descent. Like all water, however, which 
falls from the clouds, it contains minute quantities 
of air, carbonic and nitric acids, carbonate of am¬ 
monia and other salts. 
Well, or pump-water, is generally less pure than 
any of the preceding, as it frequently contains large 
quantities of carbonate or sulphate of lime, which 
are the cause of its “ hardness,” and the property 
of curdling soap. In all large towns, that have 
long been inhabited, the wells are generally ren¬ 
dered unfit for use, in consequence of the ground 
having been tainted by church-yards, vaults, and 
other nuisances, which, doubtless, is the cause of 
much suffering, and even of the shortening of life 
itself. Therefore, in all regions where lime-stone 
or other impurities in the soil abound, or where the 
farmers unavoidably have to sink their wells to a 
great depth, we would recommend the construction 
of cisterns near all of the principal farm-buildings 
for retaining the water which may fall from their 
roofs. By this means a large supply of wholesome 
water may be had all the year round, at a compa¬ 
ratively small cost, which will not only be essential 
in all purposes about the house, but will be found 
useful in irrigating the garden, as well as for the 
watering of stock. 
The most convenient and durable mode of con¬ 
structing a cistern, is, to make it of a circular form, 
under ground, with the bottom and sides lined with 
stone or bricks laid in hydraulic cement; and in 
many cases mortar may be plastered directly on the 
sides of the pit without the aid of bricks or stone. 
A cistern, eight feet in diameter and nine feet deep, 
will hold about one hundred barrels, and will re¬ 
quire three thousand four hundred bricks to face 
its sides. The cement to be employed should be of 
first-rate quality, such as that used in the construc¬ 
tion of the Croton aqueduct, or the Erie canal. If 
this cannot conveniently be obtained, a very good 
article may be made of four parts brick-dust, finely 
screened; eight parts fine, sharp, fresh-water sand ; 
twelve parts lime completely slacked by burying 
in the ground, so as to exclude the air during the 
process of slacking; three parts powdered quick¬ 
lime, newly burnt; and three parts powdered char¬ 
coal. First, mix the slacked lime, brick-dust, 
charcoal, and sand, with water sufficient to make a 
mortar thinner than usual; then sprinkle in the 
quick-lime. Mix well with a trowel, and use im¬ 
mediately, as it will soon grow stiff and hard. 
Cisterns should be completely covered with 
planks or stone, so as to exclude all insects, leaves, 
and dust. If the buildings be situated on a hill¬ 
side, it would be preferable to conduct the water to 
the place where wanted for use by means of a pipe, 
without the labor of pumping, or lifting it out by 
hand. 
N. Y. State Ag. Society. —At the meeting of the 
Executive Committee, July 8th, the judges were ap¬ 
pointed for the next show to be held at Saratoga, in 
September; but as many of the persons for various 
reasons cannot well act, and others are obliged to 
be substituted for them, we do not publish the lisL 
