THE POND. 29 



Argyleshire, the seat of W. A. Campbell, Esq. ; and, 

 I have no doubt, equally good may be had in similar 

 situations. It was perfectly tough, and had not such 

 a tendency to crack in drying as some clays have, 

 probably arising from the particles of salt it con- 

 tained, keeping it in a moist state, until gradually 

 dried. 



Being furnished with a sufficient supply of clay, 

 let it be wheeled into the Pond, dry or otherwise 

 as it is dug up, and not worked up in water with 

 the feet, prior to placing it in the Pond, as is some- 

 times done, a process by no means commendable. 

 It may be a little more expeditious, but expedition 

 in such cases is dangerous, and in the end very un- 

 profitable. 



Let one, two, or three men, as you have the means 

 and the space to be occupied, proceed first to lay a 

 thick stratum of clay along the bottom of the banks 

 (the thickness of this first layer depending on the 

 height of the bank, size of Pond, &c.), and let it be 

 beat firmly, applying water to soften the clay as re- 

 quired. The beater may be the same as is some- 

 times used by paviers (see plate A), only it must not 

 be so heavy ; by being so, a man could never work the 

 clay properly. In this manner, layer after layer may 

 be applied, getting gradually thinner, as it comes 

 near the top or lip of the bank, afterwards pro- 

 ceeding with the bottom in the same way, until all 

 be finished. 



But it may now be naturally inquired, how, or 



