The Farm Fishpond 2019 



surface of the pond basin was plowed and harrowed until the soil was 

 thoroughly pulverized. The excavation was then ready for the water, 

 which was allowed to run in until a pool formed in the center. Then 

 a harrow was pulled through and around the pool a number of times. 

 \Mien the water had extended its surface two or three feet farther over 

 the grotmd in the pond basin the harrowing was continued, half the har- 

 row being in the water and the horses traveling on the dr\- ground. Bv 

 the next da}-, when the water had extended its surface a few feet ftuther, 

 this operation was repeated, and so on until the pond area had filled 

 within eighteen inches of the top of the earth embankment. This method 

 of harro-u-ing and puddling produced an excellent waterproof mud bottom 

 thai was quite hard and firm and held water from the ver\- first. 



The water for this pond is supplied by a good windmill that works a 

 pump with an eight-inch stroke in a tubular well ^\-ith three-inch casing 

 and a two-inch point. The water is lifted about 35 feet from a well 

 that is 70 feet deep. The water in the well usually stands within about 

 32 feet of the surface. 



For five years Mr. Bailey has irrigated a three- or four-acre garden 

 patch from this one pond. The water supply seems to be ample, for 

 during a considerable portion of the time, even during a hot, dr\" sttmmer 

 like the present one (19 10), the pond is full of water and the mill is running 

 only a part of the time. 



Mr. Bailey has started another pond just west of the one already biult. 

 This uill give him two ponds with nearly half an acre of water, which 

 he expects to supply with one windmill and one pump. ****** 



Mr. Bailey has recently stocked his pond ■^•ith crappie and bull pout 

 — a yellow catfish. They are doing well, as several schools of hundreds 

 of the young fish have recently been seen feeding near the shore. 



SOME FACTS ABOUT FISHES FOR THE POXD 



Siiitable, Species 

 The temperature of the water during the hottest days of the year ^-ill 

 have something to do with the selection of fish. All members of the salmon 

 family, including the brook trout, the lake trout, and the whitefish, 

 require rather cold water. Any pond the water in which rises to a higher 

 temperature than 70° F.. is totally unfit for these fishes. If the pond is fed 

 by springs gi\-ing an abundance of clean, cold water, it is ven,' probable 

 that trout will thrive in it ; but if the pond is fed by a creek whose waters 

 are exposed to the sim in ^'arious shallows, it is suitable for warm water 

 fishes only, such as perch, black bass, sunfish, rock bass, calico bass, biill- 

 heads, and the like. While these fishes "^-ill live in cold water suitable for 

 trout, they will grow rapidly and reproduce only in ponds the summer tem- 

 peratirre of which ranges above 70° F., and a temperature of 85° F. will 

 not harm them. An acre pond of the type described herein will generally 

 have warm water in the shallow parts suitable for warm water fishes, 

 even though it be fed by springs. In this lesson only warm water fishes 



