252 



Dams of sufficient strength to impound a considerable quantity 

 of water may be made of the rudest material, provided there is 

 sufficient of it to withstand the lateral pressure. Two walls of rock, 

 with clay well rammed down, or two rows of piles with clay in 

 between, may be made to serve. In this kind of work horse labor 

 should be used as much as possible, and if the stuff on the sides of 

 the creek is suitable, the plough and scoop may be brought into 

 requisition. If the packing between the walls has to be carted, the 

 walls should be far enough apart to allow a cart to be driven right 

 through, so that the load may be dumped into its place at once, 

 without any shovelling. The passing of subsequent loads over this 



all helps to solidify the whole 

 mass, and when it is com- 

 pleted with a little topping up 

 and some gravel, if available, 

 the top of the dam makes an 

 excellent and dry crossing- 

 place over the creek. The 

 illustration shows a handy 

 little scoop, costing about 

 ;4, that will be found very 

 useful, not only for dam 

 making and tank sinking, but for other purposes on the farm. 



Before excavating for a tank, unless the farmer is well up in 

 the business, it is desirable to put clown one or two trial holes to the 

 depth the tank is to be sunk, in order to see whether the soil is good 

 holding ground or not, or whether there is any indication of a rise 

 of salt water. I have known one or two instances where, at a 

 depth of about eight or nine feet, saline springs have been struck, 

 and completely ruined the tank. . This, of course, is of rare occur- 

 rence, and I only mention it to put it on record. 



From surface indications the experienced eye can easily locate 

 good holding ground, but the new comer \vill be wise to put down 

 a trial hole or two first. The excavation of a tank is a very simple 

 matter, and in ordinary *&e*>^ finished off with a pick 



ground may be done very |^l ancl sllovcl wllcn lnc ex ' 



quickly with a plough and jff cavation is completed. If 



scoop. The tank is first /'jj there is any doubt about 



marked off arid the timber 

 cleared away, the surface 

 is then ploughed ; this is 

 scooped away, and then 

 another layer is ploughed 

 up and scooped away, 

 and so on until the re- 

 quired depth has been 

 reached. The sides are 



the holding capacity of 

 the ground, it is a very 

 good plan to puddle the 

 bottom by driving a flock 

 of sheep into it after the 

 first shower. The pressure 

 of sheep's feet has the 

 effect of rani in ing down 

 and completely solidifying 



the soil at the bottom of tank and rendering it impervious to moisture. 



