AND OF STILL WATERS. 113 



one of the greatest difficulties as well as one of 

 the heaviest expenses involved by the clearing 

 out, or, as it is technically called, "mudding," 

 of ponds, and the necessary turning up of the 

 mud soil by the plough ensures the fattening of 

 the fish when they are placed in it the following 

 year. No good breeding can be carried on in 

 ponds unless they are drained dry from time to 

 time ; and authorities are agreed that the 

 oftener this draining is done the better for the 

 fish. If ponds are left to themselves and never 

 drained out, not only will the fish not thrive in 

 them, but they will almost cease to breed, no 

 matter how much attention they receive. But, 

 if the pond is run dry and left in that state, 

 even without planting of any kind, the fish 

 when again turned in will thrive marvellously. 

 However, by the simple device of planting, not 

 only is the waste ground of the pond utilized, 

 but the crops grown therein are found to be 

 unusually heavy, especially when oats are sown, 

 which flourish in the mud soil. Barley also 

 grows well in the mud, and is particularly good 

 for the fish that come after it when the pond is 



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