340 THE IR RIGA 77 OX A GE. 



v 



bottom, and the soil thrown out may be dumped close to the edge. 

 After leveling the bottom it should be plowed, and the dirt thoroughly 

 ground up by any tools that will do it most effectually. It should 

 be then soaked thoroughly, allowed to settle for a day or two, or un- 

 til it is safe to take horses or cattle in to puddle it. It should be 

 worked down and packed so firm and smooch that a track would 

 scarcely show. If the reservoir is very large, it may be found nec- 

 essary to soak and puddle part of it and the next time it should hold 

 well enough to give it a good soaking. If the ground is very open or 

 porous, as it will be if sandy or gravelly, it will pay to draw in fire- 

 clay or gumbo, which may be found in the bottom of some of the 

 sags or buffalo wallows. After the start is made to puddle, it is best 

 to stick to it closely until finished, if possible. As soon as the bottom 

 is finished it should be given two or three inches of water to keep 

 from drying out, and the filling in and puddling of the banks com- 

 menced. 



The base of the dam or embankment should be nearly four times 

 as wide as the embankment is high. A steady team will plow down a 

 large part of the dirt required for the first and second packings. The 

 first lot of dirt that is thrown in should not exceed ten inches, with 

 the out edges slightly raised, so that a shallow trough will be formed 

 around the entire pond. It will not be necessary to puddle the entire 

 width of the embankment at the bottom except at the outlet. After 

 the ten inches of dirt is puddled and packed, the outlet, which is 

 usually made of plank, is placed in position, after the dirt is packed 

 sufficiently to let it down so that it would lack about six inches of 

 draining the reservoir. Much care will be required in packing the 

 dirt about the outlet to prevent it from leaking. By taking two fence- 

 posts that have been only haved, a very useful appliance can be made 

 for packing the dirt in the embankment, or rather, in the trench. The 

 trench can be made wide enough for two horses to walk abreast, and 

 the two posts can be' fitted together at one end so as to form a V-shaped 

 drag, and if fastened together firmly with one bolt where the two ends 

 come together, and a few pieces of plank spiked across the top, it can 

 be weighted down so as to be made very effective, not only in the 

 trench, but also in finishing the bottom of the reservoir. 



A waste pipe should be provided, so that the water will not get a 

 chance to run over the top of the bank, if neglected. The outlet 

 flume should be so constructed that time will not be lost in operating 

 it, or wateriest through leakage. A wooden outlet may be constructed 

 from 2xl2-inch planks sixteen feet long. The gate should be made to 

 fit tight, and be well cleated. One of the best methods of opening 

 and closing is to use a bench- screw attached to a long support, with 

 the nut on the upright standard. One other method is very handy 

 and simple, and is very easily constructed and operated, and if care is 



