y. YORKSHIRE. 163 



the cattle may approach the water without 

 wading in dirt, to the Injury of the bank ; 

 and without having Iharp loofe ftoncs to 

 walk and ftand on while drinkino-. 



A drinking pool, formed by a fkilful 

 artift, full to the brim, free from weeds, and 

 fmooth round the edge, is, in a green paf- 

 ture ground, as agreeable an objed: as the 

 eye can be entertained with. 



6. Time OF MAKING. Autumn is efteem- 

 ed the beft time. Drought and froft are 

 both enemies to new-made ponds. In au- 

 tumn, drought has generally abated, and a 

 fufBciency of rain-water may be expedted in 

 this fcafon, to fill them before frofts fet in. 

 A covering of Jirazv over the floncs is the 

 ufual guard againft the extremities of fea- 

 fons. 



If a refervoir be formed in a flope, where 

 the lower fide requires to be raifed with loofc 

 earth, it ought (as has been already intimat- 

 ed) to remain a coniiderable time to fettle, 

 before the coatings be put on : otherwlfe, it 

 is liable to fettle afterwards, and crack the 

 clay. I have feen an inflance of mifcarrlage 

 through this ncglcd:. If there be much 

 M 2 made- 



