246     THE WISCONSIN FARMER.



lutely suffered very much for the want of even
moderate drink, and in some places they died
in considerable numbers, it is believed, from
this cause alone; and the larger number which
survived manifested but a feeble, sluggish life,
making little or no thrift during a whole sea-
son. And nearly all of this loss and suffering
might have been avoided for the price of one
good animal, if judiciously expended in mak-
iDg a cistern and temporary basins in the fields,
as before suggested, to collect the rain water,
which falls in sufficient quantities in every
locality to relieve these wants. And this is
one of the peculiar conveniences of cisterns;
they can be made in any desirable spot, while
care, skill, and uncertainty must tattend the
sinking cf wells.  Cisterns may, if desired,
always be under the buildings, out of the wind
and cold, so that the water may at all times be
drawn and used with comfort, which is a pleas-
ant thought in preparing feed for animals,
washing harness and carriages, and drawing
water for the kitchen, &c.
   C'oNcLUstoN.-By the preceding pages, it
 will appear that our design has been, not only
 to show how water, of the very best quality,
 may be cheaply supplied in abundance to the
 dry prairies, and they be rendered more pleas.
 ant and remunerative residences; but also tc
 direct the attention of all to the healthfulness
 pleasure and profit of exclusively using rair
 or soft water, even where other kinds are cheal
 and abundant; and to prevail upon all, whe
 possibly can, to abandon the use of hard watec
 in all personal purposes; and even for stock
 as their thrift and health and strength wil
 thereby be enhanced.
   Indoor cisterns lighten the toil aud inctease
 the comfort of the family, over outdoor well
 and springs.



  Cisterns under or near the barn are mor
convenient and comfortable for both man an,
beast, than the brook or spring in the field.
  Washing face, hands or clothing in soft wa
ter is far more pleasant than using hard wate
for the same.
  Infusions of tea and coffee are much richei



nd more economical when made in soft than
ard water: and medical tinctures more effect-
re in the former than latter.
In all localities where a residence is desira-
ble or farming can be done, cloud water can
be secured, though no earth water may be
ound: and in this the occupant has a decided
advantage over Mahomet and his mountain,
'or when it would not come to him he would
go to it; but, in our case, we may uniformly
ause the water to come to us-the brook runs
away: the cistern comes to us.
Lastly, the prevention of disease is the most
beautiful consideration. The bodies are kept
clean, and the internal organs-stomach, bow-
,Is, &c.-are attacked with no unwholesome or
leleterious minerals or substances in the water
which is drunk, consequently they are sound
and invulnerable against the effects of epidem-
ics, and other diseases-except in cases where
imprudent eating and drinking shall vitiate the
organs. Thus, the wise person may say to dis-
ease, thus far, and no farther, mayst thou
come
  T. ~ii, in the exclusive adoption of rain wa-
ter, we have economy, convenience, cleanli-
ness, pleasure and healthfulness, and a sure
supply in localities where other resources fail
-but the WATERS OF LIrE FAIL NOT!

  ROTATION OF Cnops.-The Cotwdry Gentle.
man says that Jame3 Beatty and sons, success-
ful farmers in Cayuga county, N. Y., adopt the
following rotation:
  Their fields successively lie in meadow two
years; in pasture the third; the fourth corn
is planted on the sod, the manure having been
applied the previous autumn, and the sod
plowed just before planting. Corn is followed
the fifth year by barley, which is seeded to
clover by rolling. The clover is pastured by
sheep, the pasture thus obtained being equal
to the expense of seeding, until the following
summer, when it is converted to summer fallow
for wheat. The droppings of the sheep and
the crop of clover furnish an excellent prepa-
ration for this grain, which is harvested the
sixth year. It is followed by a growth of two
years and pasture one, as already mentioned.
Underdraining and this rotation " have more
than doubled the crops in the aggregate," dur-
ing Che last ten years.



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