764 Live Slock.FijJi Pond s. 



folk they commonly fuppofe the honey debafed by the great quantity of buck- wheat- 

 that is grown; but Mr. Marfhall fufpe&amp;lt;fts it to depend either wholly or in a grear 

 part on the heath. 



Fife-ponds. In particular fituations, efpecially where the proprietor of the land 

 keeps it under his own management, it may not only be convenient andagreeable, 

 but likewife highly profitable, to haveporids for the breeding, rearing^ and preferving 

 of different forts offilh. Where ponds for this ufe do not naturally prevail they may in- 

 many cafes be readily formed, particularly where there are very gentle falls or valleys 

 between, hills, or other depreflions taking place in the grounds; and through 

 which waters pafs with a flow or very eafy current. The nature of the fituatiorv. 

 will (how the extent of the ponds, and the number that can be readily formed., 

 Where water and fituation admit, two, three, or more may be made on the fame 

 line or courfe, the head of one conflicting the bottom of the other. And from* 

 one to four or five acres of ground may be covered with water, according to the 

 fupplies and other circumftances. 



In fuch fituations the only expenfe of forming convenient fim-ponds is that of 

 conftrudling heads or banks acrofs the valleySj or depreflions, for the purpoie of 

 damming up the waters to the requisite heights, with proper fluices ; which in rnoft 

 cafes, efpecially where clay is at-hand^ may be done with but little expenditure of 

 money. Thefe banks or heads (hould be formed on foundations of fufficient depths, 

 as from two to three or more feet, and in breadth proportioned to the extent and 

 preflureof the water. The wall in the middle part, which fhould not be lefs than 

 three or four feet in width, being wholly made by puddling pure clay, which in 

 many inftances may be chiefly procured by doping out the ground intended for the 

 ponds, or digging out fmall ponds forftews,&c. If clay can beeafily got from other 

 places, it is, however, better to let the ground for the ponds remain, as the fifhfeed - 

 better for it. As the work of puddling advances, earth muft be well rammed to the 

 different fides of the wall, and, when finifhed, the whole immediately well covered 

 over with it, in order to guard againft cracking. Incafes where the ground on the 

 fides rif s in a very gentle manner, banks or heads of from fix to eight or nine feet 

 in height will often be capable of covering fome acres of land with water. But in 

 the 1 contrary circumftances they will be required to be confiderably higher, as wellas 

 of greater Breadth and flrength. This may be eafily regulated by proper level 

 ling :. fuppofing ten feet to be a fufEcient height in the centre for raifing the water, 

 the foot of the bank fhould not be lefs than thirty-five, being gradually narrowed or 



