HYDROOXYDOCHEINOLOGY.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 160, 11 December 1847, Page 3

HYDROOXYDOCHEINOLOGY.

To the Editor of the Neu> Zealaivler. Sir, — A few days ago I accidentally overheard one pnsser by ask another, " Vere doss he get hisvater ?" Now, as an answer to this " gent's " question may be interesting to many others besides himself, I beg to inform all students in the science of hydrogety that I "gets my vater," from the purest of all sources, — the iky, I prefer this beautiful distilled, alias rain water, to any that h«s percolated through clay, ironI »»one. or any other strata ; there it no fear in drinking it, of dying from the gradual collection of some mineral in your liver. Not but there is plenty of springwater on my farm all t^e year round, but it is not so convenient to the house, as what can be procured at the kitchen door. " And so you drink cask wafer, bah !" No, not I. "What then ?" Why well water. The ' only difference is, the water enters the well pure from the sky, instead of entering it impure from the soil. And this well or itone tank instead of having a hole at the bottom to let the water in, is water proof all r.iund to keep it from running out, " But granting all this," siivs some would-be»remnrkably-ahrewd individual. " what an immense tank you must have to hold enough water all the year round ?" Sir, favor me with your condescending attention one moment, and I will endeavour to answer you. First then,, there is seldom a whole month, in this district at least, without rain. Secondly, an oblong tank, measuring 6 by 6, and 4 feet deep, will hold about 1100 gallons. Thirdly, the small house I reside in, catches about 10,600 gallons a year, taking the fall of n»in to be 31 in. The quantity of rain caught by any house may eaiily be known, by multiplying the number of square inches of ground the house stands on, by Si, and dividing it by the cubic contents of a gallon, — 277*274 in. You have now Sir, the elements or a ca'culation which will enable you to learn whether water enough does not fall, even, from the smallest dwelling bouse, for the constant supply of a family. A stone or brick tank may be built at a very little cost. It should be plaistered within with roman cement a quarter of an inch thick } and when covered in to prevent evaporation, will keep water clear and pure for an almost indefinite period. If any one is particularly fastidious, let him mix a little quick lime in a bucket of water, and whitewash hit roof, once or twice a year, as some do in Bermuda, where all depend on rain-water. Is not this a better plan than sinking one's money in sinking a well ? AQUARIUS. December 10 th, 1817.