[3^] POND CULTURE. 497 



Porthe corners, pieces of sod 45 centimeters broad and Ion- are used 

 These pieces are obtained by the simple process of cutting or din-o-iu„.' 

 In order to work dry sod advantageously it is sprinkled for severaUlavs 

 before it is cut. It will be still better, however, to leave this work to 

 nature, and not to begin digging until rain has sufficiently moistened 

 the sod. The best sod is that which has a dense growth of short fine 

 grass on a dark soil, while sod from a very moist or sandy soil is not 

 good. Sod removed from a very moist soil will, when deprived of its 

 natural moisture, soon wither and die ; and sod from a sandy soil will 

 fall to pieces when it is bandied. Sod taken from a damp soil would 

 thrive, when used on the water side, if the pond was filled with water 

 immediately upon the completion of the dike, which, however, cannot 

 be done, as one generally gives the dike a year's time to settle and be- 

 come solid. After the place where the sod is to be cut has been marked 

 oft in suitable squares it will, if the sod is easy to cut, take three and if 

 difficult, five men to cut 2,000 pieces in twelve hours. This work had best 

 be done in the following manner: One man inserts the spade to a depth 

 of 10 to 15 centimeters, while two assistants, by a vigorous pull, strip 

 off the sod, whereupon the first man lifts it out entirely and lays it on 

 the ground with the grassy side downward. It is true that this work 

 might be done by one man without any assistants, bui in that case he 

 will be able to supply in twelve hours only about one-fifth or one-sixth 

 of the number of pieces which 3 men can supply. If possible no more 

 pieces should be cut at a time than can be used up in one day, so that they 

 may not dry out. If the supply on hand cannot be used up in one day 

 the remainder should be piled up to the height of 60 to 100 centimeters' 

 and, if the weather is dry, be thoroughly sprinkled in the evening. The 

 pieces of sod are carried in hods, similar to those employed for bricks 

 Such a hod will hold eight to ten pieces, while a common wheelbarrow 

 will at most hold six. 

 The covering of the dike is done in the following manner : 



Iig.9 



^ All the pieces, with the exception of the topmost layer, are laid down 

 with the grassy side downward, so that their broad sides stand perpen- 



I dicularly on the wall formed by them, and no seam comes to be over 

 another one. The pieces composing the lowest layer are placed entirely 

 m the ground. The pieces should join closely, and if the wall is to be 



I scarped, extend to the outermost edges of the boards forming the profile, 



<i H. Mis. 08 32 



