E V A J 'ü K A T INC! H O U S E S .
length of the builcling ; from tliesc long
channels it is made to pass into smaller ones
by the side, from which it trickles through
a multitude of small holes, like a very gentle
shower, upon the faggots, where it is
divided into an infinite number of drops,
falling from one point to another. Being
thus exposed to the contact of the air, it
gains one degree of strength in falling, and,
by the action of the pumps, it is raised
again, and falls in other showers, till it has
acquired the strength required for passing
to the evaporating house. No. 3.
The process is conducted with less nicety
in Nos. 1 .and 2. than in the others, and, as
I mentioned before, the houses are not covered.
The pumps moved by the machine
in the centre of the building, are distributed
at equal distances on each side of
the Maison d’Epines. The water is not always
let to trickle down on both sides of
the thorns, but only on that exposed to the
wind. The two buildings. Nos. 1. and 2.,
are placed at different angles, to catch the
different currents of wind that rush down
the valley. No. 3. is constructed on the
same principles as Nos. 1. and 2.; it receives
the water from them both ; it is 370 yards
long, and is covered, to preserve the salt
water from the rain. There are twelve
pumps on each side in this building, and
more care is taken to distribute the water
equally ; here it is concentrated to the
strength of twelve per cent., and deposits
most of its remaining sulphat of lime, in incrustations
on the twigs.
The water being now reduced to about
one-seventh of the original quantity, and
raised to the strength of twelve degrees,
is passed along channels to the Maison
d’Epines, No. 4. This is only seventy yards
in length : here it is further concentrated
by a similar process, till it nearly reaches
the point of saturation, but this depends on
the season. In dry weather, it is raised to
twenty-two degrees ; but in rainy, moist
weather, to eighteen degrees only. In
summer-time the whole process of evaporation,
in passing through the different
houses, is about one month ; in wet seasons
it is longer. The stream of water that sets
in motion the hydraulic machines for raising
the saline water to the top of the buildings,
is brought by a small aqueduct from
the river Doron. When once in motion,
the process goes on and requires little far-
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