1 38 Command of Water. 



SECT. IX. Command of Water. 



THOSE who have a command of good water, can have no 

 conception of the miseries which attend the want of it ; or 

 which are experienced, when this necessary article, can on- 

 ly be had in small quantities, or of inferior quality. In the low 

 districts of Lincolnshire, the water is almost every where 

 brackish, and good river or spring-water, is in such request, 

 that carts are sent for it, in some cases, as far as even six- 

 teen or seventeen miles (* 47 ). In the Wolds of Yorkshire, 

 there are instances still in recollection, before the improved 

 mode of making artificial ponds was discovered, of num- 

 bers of animals having perished of thirst (* 48 ) ; and in 

 Hampshire, from the long continuance of dry weather du- 

 ring the autumnal months, the wells became so exhausted, 

 that great labour and expense were incurred, in supplying 

 the family and the stock, by means of water-carts (* 49 ). To 

 avoid the risk of such serious misfortunes, it was anciently 

 the practice, for the conveniency of having water, to erect 

 farm-buildings in low grounds, near brooks or rivers. This 

 plan, however, was attended with several disadvantages. 

 The house became damp ; the grain, from the moisture of 

 the atmosphere, was frequently injured, and, from the vici- 

 nity of the water, accidents of various descriptions frequent- 

 ly occurred (* 5 ). When the advantages, therefore, of hav- 

 ing a house arid offices in the centre of the farm, and rather 

 on an elevated situation, came to be generally understood 

 and admitted, various modes of obtaining a supply of so es- 

 sential an article as water, were devised. The chief are, 1. 

 From the roofs of the buildings; 2. Natural springs; 3. 

 Wells ; 4. Artificial ponds ; or 5. Artificial rills. 



1. Roofs of buildings. Water for common purposes, may 

 be obtained in most situations, by collecting the rain which 

 falls upon the buildings occupied by the family and their 

 cattle ; and the means of freeing it from every impurity, 

 are simple and easy( 251 ). The buildings and yards of a 

 farm, are supposed to receive rain sufficient, if duly col- 

 lected, to supply both the family and the cattle of the place, 

 for a considerable part of the year ; and ponds, where ne- 

 cessary, may be made in any situation, at a very small ex- 

 pense, for the remainder. Cattle, therefore, ought not to 

 be driven to water beyond the limits of their pasture; and it 

 is not requisite to fetch water in carts from distant places ( zsz ). 



2. Natural springs. Where natural springs are to be met 



