JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 



POND MAKING. 



HE foi-mation of ponds and lakes comes 

 more within the provmce of the engineer 

 and landscape gardener than of the ordinaiy 

 practitioner ; it is not really a hranch of 

 gardening, yet the possession of something 

 more than a general acquaintance with its 

 details is desnable. I therefore offer a few 

 practical hints derived from actual expe- 

 rience. 



Ponds are made in two ways — either by 

 excavation, or the construction of a dam across the 

 lower side of a hollow. In the former case the work 

 is of so simple a nature as to call for no special notice, 

 further than that, if the soil is not requii-ed for any par- 

 ticular purpose, it is disposed of most economically 

 and usefully around the edge of the pond, thus lessening 

 the labour of excavation, and raising the banks at the 

 same time. 



The position of an artificial pond should be influenced 

 by the pm-pose it is intended to serve. If it is for stoiing 

 water for cultural purposes, then it is highly important 

 it should be either very near to the plants to which it is 

 to be appUed, or else in a more elevated position, whence 

 the water may be distributed tln'ough pipes and hose 

 with gi-eat expedition and economy. ^Vhen, however, the 

 water is requh'ed for ornamental rather than for useful 

 pm-poses, the choice of a position requires the exercise of 

 sound judgment as well as good taste, so that the water 

 may be so disposed as to contribute to the beauty of the 

 sceneiy, in which it is certain to form a prominent ob- 

 ject, while every natm-al featm-e or inequaUty of the 

 gi'ound is turned to advantage. 



In making a pond, there should be amjile provision 

 for letting off sm-plus waters resulting from -ivinter rains. 

 Lot there be outlets proportionate in size to the inflow, 

 or rather in excess of it. The outlets consist of a sluice 

 or penstock for emptying the pond, and a pipe or cascade 

 for the overflow. The penstock consists of a wooden 

 tube rather longer than the width of the dam at its base, 

 open at the outer end, and closed with a stout sliding 

 door at the end inside the pond. For the door to fit as 

 closely as possible it slides in a gi'oove cut in the bottom, 

 the sides, and through the top of the tube ; it is attached 

 to a shaft passing through a beam elevated upon two 

 side posts shghtly above the water line. A small shaft 

 is readily raised with a lever passed tkrough a hole in 

 the centre of and near its top ; but when the pond is 

 deep, and a large sluice is used, the shaft is raised by 

 means of a cog wheel and spindle. A tube of 2-inch 

 beech planks, and of an internal diameter of 9 inches, 

 answers admii-ably for very large ponds, the pressiu-e of 

 the water causing it to pass through with surprising 

 speed. This simple apparatus is very durable, and as 

 efficient as the more costly one of iron which is some- 

 times used. 



The cascade should be of ample size to afford free 

 passage for the waters of a flood, and yet of such a form 



No. 580.— Vol. XXn. New Sekies. 



as to look well with the slighter flow of su mm er ; it is 

 advisable, therefore, not to attempt too much, but to 

 make the passage narrow and deep rather than broad 

 and shaUow. 



The an-angement of the materials for min g the bed or 

 bottom of the cascade depends very much on individual 

 taste ; sometimes the water passes over steps of dressed 

 stone arranged with much precision and nicety, at others 

 it timibles in wild confusion among masses of rock 

 seom-ely bedded in mortar. Wliatever foirm is adopted, 

 the sides should be high enough to prevent any washing 

 of the bank, and every part must be strong and compact 

 in order to resist the pressm'e, as well as the action of 

 the water when in motion. 



The height of the dam should be at least 1 foot above 

 the required level of the water, the width of the base 

 bearing a correct proportion to the height, but with tliis 

 difference, that the outer slope is made at an angle of 4.5", 

 and the inner slope at an angle of 32°, so that the vertical 

 pressure of the water upon this elongated slope may 

 contribute veiy materially to the strength of the dam. 

 The philosophy of this wdU be more clear if it is remem- 

 bered that the specific gra\-ity of common water is 1000 

 (that is to say, a cubic foot of water weighs 1000 ounces 

 avou-dupois), while that of Oak timber is only 925. The 

 accompanying transverse section clearly illustrates the 

 formation of a dam. 



TRANSVEESE SECTION 



A. Puddled clay. 



B. Ordinary soil, 

 c. Rock. 



D. Surface of water. 



E. Pond bottom. 



The puddled clay is continued 3 feet 

 below the level of the pond bottom, to 

 prevent any escape of water under the 

 dam. 



It is sometimes advised to have the puddled clay next 

 the water, but I very much prefer having it in the centre, 

 in which position it is best calculated to strengthenthe 

 bank, and is altogether screened fi-om the sun. This is 

 important, for if any part of the surface of a mass of 

 puddled clay is exposed to the drying influence of the 

 sun or ail-, 'cracks of a serious nature occur, and if the 

 water obtains a passage thi-ough the smallest crevice it 

 may prove fatal to the entii-e stnictm-e. The pudcUing 

 is a part of the work on which much care and labour- 

 should be bestowed. The chief thing to guard against 

 is the excessive nse of water. Caution and watchfulness 

 are especially necessaiy when the work is done by the 

 cubic yard, there being a tendency on the part of most 

 labom-ers to apply water till the clay can be worked with 

 No. 1532.— Vol. XLVII., Old Seeies. 



