232 
‘Ikt RURAL NEW-YORKER 
February 18, 1922 
to pass through them but slowly, with the 
result that waters obtained from clays 
are usually very “hard.’’ Lime and mag¬ 
nesia are the materials most frequently 
found in hard water, and the water is 
said to have “temporary hardness” or 
“permanent hardness.” depending upon 
whether this material is present in the 
form of n sulphate or bicarbonate. 
As to getting water into the house, it is 
possible that a ram could he installed be¬ 
low the spring, pumping this water into 
the house automatically and giving you 
all city conveniences. "Whether or not 
this could be done depends upon the 
amount of water available and the fall 
from the spring to the point where the 
ram would he installed. A flow of three 
or move gallons per minute can be util¬ 
ized. and this can he measured by catch¬ 
ing the water from the spring for a given 
length of time and measuring it. If the 
spring is a large one, as you say, it is 
probable that you have a means at hand 
for getting running water into the house 
at a very reasonable expense, as the sys¬ 
tem can be made very simple at first and 
added to later. 
Farm Mechanics 
Conducted by Robert H. Smith, of the Canton Agricultural School 
Canton, New York 
springs for drinking purposes first falls 
- 'I upon the grounds surface as rain nr snow. 
In passing through the atmosphere and 
ater Supply upper soil layers it absorbs certain or¬ 
ganic acids and gases that act as sol¬ 
der and cistern vents of minerals in the soil, with the re¬ 
in hardly pump suit that by tbe time the water reaches 
;istern water is the spring or well from which we use it, 
sweet. Today it has become “hard.” as we term it, 
'hat. was worse meaning that it carries in solution cer- 
it spring water tain minerals. These may be harmless 
lie nonyard for for drinking, but if present in any 
d; il looked so amount, make the water unsuitable for 
tailed using it. washing purposes. 
<*the well water. The degree of hardness in the water is 
Trouble with Ignition 
My automobile has a bad skip. I have 
put in a new magneto plug, new wires 
throughout, new timer, new plugs, tried 
different coils, and have not helped it. 
My pistons are very loose. Would this 
cause a skip, or what do you think my 
trouble is? Can over-size rings be used 
on standard size pistons? H, b, 
Robbinsville, N. J. 
Skipping or missing can be caused by 
loose pistons, although ordinarily it is the 
result of some trouble in the ignition sys¬ 
tem. and this source of trouble should be 
carefully looked into first, before making 
an attempt to locate the trouble else¬ 
where. Where a piston becomes loose 
enough to permit over-oiling, the surplus 
oil works up into the combustion cham¬ 
ber and may short circuit the plugs, either 
by the excess fluid oil bridging across the 
gap. or the carbon deposited when the 
mixture of oil and find is burned may 
do the same. This troubl** is usually most 
prevalent in No. 1 cylinder, the one next 
to the radiator, and cleaning this plug, if 
found in this condition, will give tem¬ 
porary relief. 
Also, skipping may be due to compres¬ 
sion being poor, due to either leaky 
valves or rings. The motor may be tested 
for compression by turning over slowly, 
noting resistance and listening for hisses, 
denoting leaks. If the compression is 
good tbe motor should turn with a rub¬ 
bery feel, while poor compression is de¬ 
noted by ease of turning and uniformity 
of effort required to turn the motor. Com¬ 
pression leaks are indicated by 'hisses. 
Valve leaks will sound loudest on the out¬ 
side of the motor and can easily he locat¬ 
ed by removing the manifolds and listen¬ 
ing as tbe motor is slowly turned. Leaks 
past the rings and pistons can be heard 
most plainly by listening at the breather 
pipe of the engine, the hiss being heard as 
the air escapes past the piston into the 
crank case. If the leak is past the valves 
the remedy lies in regrinding and possi¬ 
bly reseating the valves, while a leak past 
the rings calls for new rings and possibly 
new pistons. Where the pistons are bad¬ 
ly worn, as you say yours are. the best 
thing to do is to have the cylinders re¬ 
bored and over-size pistons refitted, as 
well as new rings, The use of new rings 
alone will not make the motor as tight 
ditions existing in a pipe line make it 
difficult or impractical to use them. It is 
impossible to watch the action closely to 
determine when it has gone far enough, it 
is difficult to apply the rust remover to 
the interior of the pipe without getting 
it into the water supply, and, further¬ 
more. even though the rust is removed by 
it, there is no protection left to guard 
against another coating. 
The Scientific American Cyclopedia of 
They will make good Formulas offers the following as a rust 
remover: A nearly saturated solution of 
chloride of tin is made up and the rusted 
_ article left to stand in it from 12 to 14 
hours. This treatment is recommended 
ie character of the soil for articles heavily rusted. If the coat- 
omposition. Hence, a ing is less, no doubt a shorter treatment 
ely to yield soft water, or a weaker solution, or both, would be 
id water flows through sufficient. If you can devise a way of 
’c rapidity and does not stopping up your pipe and filling it with 
;h in contact with it to this solution—a gallon will fill about 13 
Sand soils also are ft. of 1 Vi-in. pipe—and care to try the 
ible as other types. On experiment. I would be very glad to learn 
y soils, because of their of the results. If it can he done success¬ 
less, permit soil water fully it will be very useful. R. H. s. 
•Jacking Uji the Old Cur 
picture above will probably how to do it. It is better to have the 
amiliar to you. Very likely you trouble at home than off in the road sorne- 
?en caught in much the same situ- where in the snow or mud. These boys 
down under the truck or car, with are interested, 
dren gathered around, showing you drivers some day, 
H Low Prices Again for Choicest Plant Food 
j *7 he 
MAPES FAMOUS 
The Standard for Generations 
BASIS BONE AND GUANO NO ROCK USED 
AVAILABILITY WITHOUT ACIDITY 
Wholesale market for even choicest materials back to before the war basis. 
YOU CAN RICHLY AFFORD TO BUY THE BEST 
For the farmer to make money today, big crops of best quality 
are absolutely necessary. 
Send direct to us or to our nearest agent for pamphlet and prices . 
The Mapes Formula & Peruvian Guano Co. 
Hartford Branch 143 Liberty Street 
239 State Street, Hartford, Conn. New York City, N. Y. 
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