33 



cover properly the highest point of the bog, 7 feet of water will be 

 required at the lower dike, so that this lower dike will need to be 9 feet 

 high. By building one or more midway dikes, the volume of water may 

 be reduced very materially, which is desirable for ([uick flowage and 

 rapid drainage. 



If dikes are to be built, they should ha\e a broad base, below the 

 center of which a 3-foot trench should be dug to hardpan. This 

 trench runs lengthwise of the dike, and is filled with sand or gravel. 

 The width at the bottom of the dike depends upon the depth of water 

 to be carried in the pond or on the meadow at the time of flowage. 



When the dike is to be used as a drive or roadway, the height will 

 determine its width at the top. A dike 4 feet high, when constructed 

 for this purpose, should be 14 feet wide at the top, and at least IS feet 

 wide at the base. No heavy team should be allowed to drive over it 

 for at least six months after it is built, and then the wagon should have 

 wide tires. 



A dike should be built amply strong to withstand the pressure of 

 water which it is intended to carry; and, if it is to be a reservoir dike, 

 sand should be dumped ofT its bank on the reservoir or water side, to 

 completely cover the turf. This sand covering will keep muskrats 

 from burrowing into the dike, as the sand fills in wherever they try to 

 burrow. The reservoir dike should be built at least 2 feet higher than 

 high-water mark, for strong winds will cause the water to wash and 

 slap against it. The outlet must be ample to admit of overflow in case 

 of heavy rains and melting snow. Pulhng plank should be set at the 

 reservoir flume at the height water is to be carried. 



The outside of all dikes should be built up with turf cut 12 by 18 

 inches, and some 12 by 24 for binders. All turf should be laid longest 

 way crosswise on the dike, and all seams lapped, after the manner of lay- 

 ing bricks. 



If the water is 6 feet deep at the flume, the dike should l)e not less 

 than 8 feet high, 18 feet wide at the base, and narrowed to 10 feet at the 

 top. This will allow 4 feet for the sloping of each side, which is none too 

 much, even when good, tough turf is used for its banks. 



When a dike crosses a meadow, no ditch should be dug nearer than 

 10 feet to its sides, else the great weight of the dike will crowd, and fill 

 up the ditch, causing the dike itself to slump and cave. A crushed 

 down dike is an eyesore, and little better than no dike for holding back 

 water. If the dike crosses soft land, such as muck or mud, it should 

 be spiled to hardi)an lengthwise, in addition to the center filled trench. 

 A thoroughly built dike will pay in tiie long run. 



The flume through the dike must be carefully and strongly built. 

 Some are built with stone, others with plank; but we prefer the Port- 

 land cement flume, built with a bulkhead so water can be handled at 

 the top rather than from the bottom of the Hume. \n experienced 

 man will be profitable to employ for this part of the work. 



