28 Ridge-Ponds. 



Scarcely a quarter of a mile from the earthwork, 

 and on a level with it close to the clump of firs 

 and beech alluded to previously there may be seen 

 on this warm summer day a broad, circular, pan-like 

 depression partially filled with water. Being on the 

 very top of the ridge, and only so far sunk as to hold 

 a sufficient quantity, there is little or no watershed 

 to drain into the pond ; neither is there a spring or 

 any other apparent source of supply. It would nat- 

 urally be imagined that in this exposed position, even 

 if filled to the brim by heavy storms of rain, a week 

 of sultry sunshine would evaporate it to the last drop ; 

 instead of which, excepting, of course, unusually pro- 

 tracted spells of dry weather such as only come at 

 lengthy intervals, there will always be found some 

 water here ; even under the blazing sunshine a shal- 

 low pool remains, and in ordinary times the circular 

 basin is half full. 



It is of quite modern construction, and, except 

 indirectly, has no bearing upon the water supply of 

 the earthwork, having been made within a few years 

 only for the convenience of the stock kept upon the 

 hill farms. Some special care is taken in puddling 

 the bottom and sides to prevent leakage, and a layer 

 of soot is usually emploj'ed to repel boring grubs 

 or worms which would otherwise make their holes 

 through and let the water soak into the thirsty chalk 

 beneath. In wet weather the pond quickly fills ; 

 once full, it is afterwards kept up by the condensa- 

 tion of the thick, damp mists, the dew and cloud- 

 like vapors, that even in the early mornings of the 

 hot summer days so frequently cling about the downs. 

 These more than supply the waste from evaporation, 



