PON 



PON 



343 



stitches ; this is to remain several 

 days without any other dressing ex- 

 cept bathing with spirits of wine. 

 Should matter flow in great abun- 

 dance, and of thin consistency, the 

 above application must be again 

 repeated until the matter decreases 

 in quantity and becomes of a whitish 

 colour and healthy appearance. 



POND, a collection of still wa- 

 ter. A mill pool is so called,thoHgh 

 it gradually receives water in one 

 part, and discharges it in another: 

 So that it is not perfectly still wa- 

 ter. The water is so often shifted, 

 that it is not apt to putrefy. 



Pastures that are destitute of 

 water, should have artificial ponds 

 made in them, for watering places. 

 " Observe where rushes, reeds, 

 flags, and other aquatic plants grow 

 spontaneously; or where frogs are 

 observed to lie squatted down close 

 to the ground in order to receive 

 its moisture. Or observe where a 

 vapour is frequently seen to rise 

 from the same spot. Some say, 

 wherever little swarms of flies are 

 seen constantly flying in the same 

 place, and near the ground, in the 

 morning after sun-rise, there is wa- 

 ter underneath." " If a well is 

 made in a sloping ground, and the 

 declivity is suflicient to give it a 

 horizontal vent, it will be worth the 

 husbandman's while to dig such a 

 passage, and by means of pipes, or 

 any other conveyance, to carry the 

 water across the light soil, through 

 which it might otherwise sink. The 

 greatest quantity of water will be 

 obtained in this manner, because 

 there will be a continual stream." 

 There is no difficulty in making a 

 durable pond in a clayey soil. Let 



a large hollow basin be made in 

 such earth, and it will preserve the 

 water that falls in rain. But it is 

 apt to be thick and dirty, if some 

 pains be not taken to prevent it. 

 The declivity, by which the cattle 

 enter, should be paved, and gravel 

 should be spread on the bottom. 

 Or it might be better if the whole 

 were paved. 



There are many large natural 

 ponds, which have outlets in one 

 part, and are supplied by brooks or 

 rivers in other parts; but a greater 

 number of smaller ponds which are 

 perfectly stagnant, unless when 

 they are agitated by winds. Such 

 ponds as the latter, in hot seasons, 

 are apt to become putrid, and con- 

 taminate the air about them. For 

 this reason they should, if possible, 

 be drained. And when the water 

 is not deep, and an outlet can be 

 made without too much cost, they 

 should be drained for the sake of 

 reclaiming the soil. This will be 

 of great value, as it commonly is 

 found to be extremely rich, being 

 made up of the finest particles of 

 soil, wafted into them by winds, and 

 of decayed vegetable substances, 

 besides the fine mould washed into 

 them by rains. 



Many farms contain little sunken 

 spots, which are most of the year 

 covered with water, and produce 

 some aquatic bushes and weeds. 

 These are notorious harbours for 

 frogs ; and are therefore called frog 

 ponds. They should be drained, 

 if it be practicable. It is common- 

 ly the case, however, that draining 

 them in the common way, by ma- 

 king an outlet, would cost more 

 than they would be worth when 



