Book III. 



FORMING PONDS. 



669 



^^S||^'^f*lr 



The disadvantage of sucli ponds is, that one is required for every field, or at least for 

 every two fields ; where- 

 as a pond sloped on all _oa 

 sides may supply four 

 fields or even a greater 

 number. {Jig' 535.) 



41 S6. The Glouces- 

 tershire ponds are made 

 either of a square or a 

 circular shape, and gene- 

 rally so situated, as to 

 furnish a supply to four 

 fields, (fig. 535.) Three 

 layers of clay, free from 

 the smallest stone or 

 gravel, are so worked 

 in, as to form an impe- 

 netrable cement. The 

 whole is afterwards 

 covered with sand, and 

 finished with pavement. 

 {Gloucestershire Report ^ 

 p. 31.) 



4137. The Derbyshire artificial meers, or cattle 

 ponds, are made in their dry rocky pastures^ with great 

 success. Having selected a low situation for the pur- 

 pose, they deepen it ten or twenty yards across, and 

 spread over the whole excavation a layer, about five 

 inches thick, of refuse slacked lime and coal cinders ; 

 then they spread, trample, and ram down a stratum of 

 well tempered clay, about four inches thick ; and upon 

 this they spread a second bed of clay, in a similar man- 

 ner, of the same thickness; the whole of the bottom 

 and edges of the meer is then paved with rubble stones ; 

 and small rubble stones, several inches thick, are 

 spread upon the pavement. {Derbyshire Bqiort, vol. i. p. 494. ) 



4138. The situation of field ponds, where practicable, should be at the intersection of 

 fences, so as one may serve as many fields as possible. This, however, cannot be the 

 best situation in every case, because it may happen that water cannot there be collected. 

 /\t the same time, a low situation is not desirable in every case, because it may be so 

 circumstanced that too much dirty water may run into it during rains. 



4139. Trees are frequently planted round ponds, Sind. -with seeming propriety, as their 

 effect is beautiful, and they shade the water from the direct influence of the sun during 

 summer ; but in autumn their leaves certainly tend to render the water impure for a 

 time. As most leaves are of an astringent quality, perhaps there may be no injury sus- 

 tained by cattle from drinking such water at first; but after some time the leaves begin to 

 decay and occasion a sort of fermentation, which, till it subsides in the beginning of 

 frosty weather, renders the water somewhat unhealthy and very unsightly. 



4140. Wells, where no better method of procuring water can be devised, may be re- 

 sorted to, both for fields and farmeries ; but the great objection to them is the labor re- 

 quired to pump up, or otherwise raise the water, and the consequent risk of neglect. 

 Before proceeding to dig a well, it ought first to be determined on whether a mere re- 

 servoir for the water which oozes out of the surface soil is desired or obtainable, or a 

 perpetual spring. If the former is the object in vievv, a depth of fifteen or twenty feet 

 may probably suffice, though this cannot be expected to afford a constant supply unless 

 a watery vein or spring is hit on : if the latter, the depth may be very various, there being 

 instances of 300 and 500 feet having been cut through before a permanent supply of 

 water was found. {Middlesex, Surrey, and Hampshire Reports.) 



4141 . The art of well-digging is generally carried on by persons who devote themselves 

 exclusively to that department. The site being fixed on, the ground-plan is a circle, 

 generally of not more than six or eight feet in diameter : the digger then works down by 

 means of a small short-handled spade, and a small implement of the pick-axe kind ; the 

 earthy materials being drawn up in buckets by the hand or a windlass, fixed over the 

 opening for the purpose. Wliere persons conversant with this sort of business are em- 

 ployed, they usually manage the whole of the work, bricking round the sides with great 

 facility and readiness ; but in other cases, it will be necessary to have a bricklayer to ex- 

 ecute tliis part of the business. 



