DAM-MAKING. 223 



the embankment to the top. But this is often imprac- 

 ticable, from there being no water near the spot. The 

 farmer is then obhged to dispense with this puddled 

 core, and if the ground is of a good binding nature, 

 although it will be sure to leak at first, it may 

 eventually get quite water-tight. 



The best dams, where there is no puddled core, are 

 those made with a scoop, as they then have a good 

 bevel, and the oxen tramp the bank solid in going up 

 and down with the scoop ; but this sort of dam is 

 generally shallow, and cannot be made in all places. 



The next best are those made with Scotch carts, 

 the working of which on the bank hardens it down, 

 though not so effectively as the scoop. 



The worst are those made with wdieelbarrows ; the 

 earth falls so lightly that the subsidence, when the 

 water gets in it, is incredible to one inexperienced ; 

 unless the bank was carried some feet higher than 

 would be eventually required, the water will go over 

 the top ; and unless the material is thoroughly good, 

 the water will filter through it, and eventually melt 

 it away. The greater the slope of the inside of the 

 bank, and the more the stock are allowed to trample 

 over it, the better. The base should be the breadth 

 of the top of the bank, with at least two feet added 

 for every foot of height. 



