RETTING 



107 



of retting at the points where the fresh water enters, and thus 

 produce an irregularly retted straw. Any tendency in this 

 direction can be avoided by digging a narrow trench about 

 9 in. deep, a few feet from the edge of the pond. 

 A small constant supply of soft water is sometimes 



FIG. 62 



FIG. 61 



ARRANGEMENT OF SUPPLY AND ESCAPE 

 OF WATER FROM THE RETTING PONDS 



advantageously allowed to enter the 

 retting pond and a corresponding quantity 

 to escape during retting. 



Figs. 60, 61, and 62 illustrate one method of 

 designing and making a retting pond, and over- 

 coming local and natural difficulties ; the same letters 

 in each diagram refer to corresponding details. 

 Two retting ponds (marked Nos. 1 and 2) are required to 

 be made in the position shown, and each to hold an 

 acre of flax. A natural stream (A) runs at right angles 

 to the ponds, but the bed of this stream is 7 ft. below 

 the surface of the water in the proposed ponds, when sub- 

 sequently filled, and 3 ft. below the bed of the ponds. The 

 fall of the stream being 1 in 3, a wall of puddled clay taken 

 from the ponds 1 and 2 was made at B, an upper inclined 

 bank at C, and a lower supporting bank at C 1 (Fig. 61). 



