Twentieth century home cook book

Every farm-house — where there is a windmill for raising water — should have the necessary tanks for soft water for the house. These tanks may be in the barn or on other suitable elevations, from which the water may be conducted in pipes provided with faucets. In laying the pipes the greatest care should be taken that they are nowhere within reach of frost. If they are they become a source of constant annoyance in winter, and often of considerable damage to the building. Architects more often fail in providing against damage from frost than in any other respect. Plumbers are never mindful in this matter. They simply do their work according to the plan given. See, therefore, that no water pipes run next the outer wall of the building; that they are always Avhere they can easily be gotten at, and, as an extra precaution, that they are always encased in some non-conducting material when there is any danger from frost ; and, also, that in very cold weather a small flow may escape from the discharge-pipe connecting with all, during the night, so a constant current may be kept up. The supply-pipe should be brought, underground, well beneath the frost line, to the center of the cellar beneath the house. A wooden box, of boards not less than one foot wide, should receive the pipe at the depth of about two feet under the cellar floor and conduct it to the story above. This box must have the pipe in its center and the space between be packed in sawdust. In northern climates the pipe must extend to no room not kept warm in winter. It is better to do without it than have it freeze and break. IX. Soft-Water Cisterns. Cisterns for rain-water should always be placed where they will not freeze. This is especially necessary where they are built of brick or stone and cement, for we suppose no one nowadays will consent to have a cistern plastered up directly on the earth or clay. It is cheap, and it is as worthless as it is cheap. In some localities, drinking-water is so difficult to obtain, that cisterns which collect the rain-water furnish the only supply. In this case, the cistern should be in two parts with a filter between. When it is built in this way, and the water comes from clean roofs, the water, though insipid, is pure and healthful. The living water of wells is, however, better in every respect, but no well-water is entirely safe, unless means have been taken to keep out surface drainage, and they are liable to be contaminated by the seepage, from sewers, the out-houses or the barnyard. The danger from this latter cause is much greater than many people suppose. The earth is always honey-combed with the borings of insects and small animals, which always carry their burrows to the nearest water, generally the well. Seepage once entering these cavities inevitably finds its way to the well. Unfortunately, the most deadly germs are often not to be detected by the taste or smell. For this reason, many persons prefer cistern water to that from the well. When danger is suspected from wells, the water should always be boiled. No filtering will take out the deadly germs. Indeed, half the disease of the world would be avoided if all the water drunk was first boiled. X. Laying Dcwn Carpets. Laying down the carpets is a task always dreaded by women. In fact, no heavy carpet should ever be undertaken by them. That it is a man's work always, may be easily discovered by anybody who has laid one. For this reason, in cities, the merchant who sells, undertakes to cut, fit and lay the carpet. In the country this is not always possible. With expensive carpets it will always be better to employ some one who thoroughly understands the art. An implement for stretching the carpet is always convenient and often indispensable.