[27] POND CULTURE. 493 



that portion of the dike which they strike. If the ditch is not so large 

 it will be advisable to construct as much of the dike as can be completed 

 with the earth supplied from the ditch. In this case it would be neces- 

 sary, if oue divides the line of the dike into parts measuring 1.2 meters 

 each (greater distances should be avoided, as otherwise the pounders 

 would be too far apart to pound suflQcieutly the newly heaped-up earth) 

 to calculate the cube of each of the above-mentioned parts, and from 

 this the length of ditch to be assigned to each squad, so as to make 

 sure that the cubic contents of the length of ditch will supply the ueces- 

 sary quantity of earth for the corresponding portion of the dike, in 

 which case, therefore, the squads working along the ditch will have 

 longer distances assigned to them than those working on the dike. The 

 same principle is observed as regards the distribution of labor on the 

 other portions of the dike and the ditches supplying the material for 

 the same. It is known from experience that one man, if the soil is 

 tolerably easy to work in, can remove 450 cubic decimeters of earth in 

 one hour; if the soil is sandy, 600 ; and if it is difficult, 300. This ap- 

 plies also to an entire squad of laborers, as only one of their number 

 removes the earth from the ditch, the others being employed in carry- 

 ing it farther and leveling it. 



The carrying of earth in wheelbarrows should, as much as possible, 

 be avoided, as it takes more time than throwing it ; this difference is 

 not equalized by saving some men for throwing the earth, and this 

 method is consequently more expensive. Wheelbarrows should be em- 

 ployed only when a sufficient number of laborers cannot be obtained, 

 or in cases where the distances between the ditch and the dike are very 

 great. A wheelbarrow holds on an average 21 cubic decimeters of 

 earth, and two men can in one hour dig out 450 cubic decimeters and 

 load them on the wheelbarrows. One man can in twelve working hours 

 travel over an even road 28 kilometers (with wheelbarrow, coming and 

 going). If we let w stand for the distance traveled, the cubic contents, 

 K, of the quantity' of earth removed in one liour by a wheelbarrow will 

 be ascertained by the following formula : 



T^ 21.21.2000 1 , . , 



^ = rrn oi=r. cubic decijueters, 



36 ic + 350 ' 



and the number of men at the wheelbarrows. A, for every two men dig- 

 ging and loading the earth will be: 



A = (^'^^^±^^^^) 

 7. 7. 40." ~ 



For a distance exceeding 1 kilometer it may be advisable to employ 

 carts. A cart with two horses can carry 450 cubic decimeters of earth, 

 aiid, on an even road, travel 28 kilometers in twelve hours. For every 

 loading and unloading a loss of seven minutes should be counted. In 

 going uphill the dist^pc^^ tir3,yele(| sliould be increased by four times m 



