WATER. 



made for the additional coat of clay, to the extent of twelve 

 or fifteen inches in thicknefs, and of feveral inches of gravel 

 over it, to preferve the clay from being wafted by the mo- 

 tion of the water, and keep it clear, which would otherwife 

 be muddy. But previous to the claying, the loofe and 

 uneven paits in the bottom and fides of the cavity (hould be 

 well rammed, to make the whole firm, even, and fmooth ; 

 then beginning in the middle fpace with the clay, and pro- 

 ceeding gradually outward, being careful that no ftones, 

 ilicks, or other matter, get mixed with it, to occafion fif- 

 fures, or cracks, by which the water may efcape, laying it 

 fvenly, a fmall thicknefs at a time, and fpreading it regu- 

 larly, treading it well with the naked feet ; and if dry 

 weather, caftmg water on it occafionally, ramming it well 

 from time to time with wooden rammers ; then gradually 

 applying more clay, in the fame manner, to the proper 

 thicknefs, being careful that every part is fo well puddled 

 and rammed, as not to leave the fmalleft vacancy. Thus 

 continuing the claying in a regular manner each way, from 

 the bottom to the top of the circumference, fmoothnig the 

 furface evenly, and in dry weather covering it, as the work 

 proceeds, with matts or fti-aw litter, or with the ftratum of 

 pebbly gravel. When the whole is finiihed, the water 

 fliould be let in. 



When this has been done, the top or verge muft be regu- 

 lated and levelled, forming it evenly from the edge of the 

 water, in a gradual regular expanfi in to fome extent out- 

 ward, without any ftiff flope clofe to the water, diHinft 

 from the furrounding fuperficies ; laying the ground with 

 grafs turf, efpecially along the margin, continuing it as far 

 down as the general level of the water. Where the extent 

 is confiderable it may be fown with grafs-feeds. 



In conftrudting the excavations for a body of water in 

 fuch fituations as are deficient of materials in iome of their 

 parts, as too low in fome of their boundaries, as either at 

 the ends or fides finking below the general furface of the 

 ground, or the height at which the water is intended to 

 uand ; thefe parts muil be ftrongly banked up to the ne- 

 celfary height in a fubftantial manner, having a fufficient 

 body of proper materials applied, efpecially where the part 

 is to form a head at the end of a canal, or other fimilar 

 piece of water ; the whole being inwardly faced with a 

 ftrong body of well puddled clay. 



It is well known by every one, the above writer fays, 

 that the expence attending the formation of artificial water 

 by the modes which have hitherto been chiefly praftifed is 

 enormous, and in fome inftances fcarcely fupportable ; but 

 by adopting improved methods, fuch as thofe which have 

 been fuggefted, it will in almoft every cafe be greatly re- 

 duced, and become nmch cheaper, often to a very remark- 

 able degree. This will be rendered quite evident by con- 

 fidering the different neceflary operations in their formation, 

 as they relate to each method of proceeding ; fuch, for in- 

 ftance, as the excavation of the bed for the water, the form- 

 ation of the head, the fpreading of the earth taken out, and 

 the management of the furrounding furface. In regard to 

 the firll, the principal reafon why it becomes fo expenfive 

 is, that a river is commonly imitated inftead of a lake, which, 

 on account of the natural flope of all grounds, requires not 

 merely larger heads, but a far greater number of them. 

 By in a great meafure imitating lakes, one head is, for the 

 mott. part, all that is required ; and this alfo, many times, 

 of a far fmaller dimenfion than thofe in the cafes of rivers. 

 This alone often makes a very material difference in the 

 coft. 



In what relates to the fpreading of the excavated earth, 

 and the regulation of the furrounding furface, as in the me- 



thods hitherto purfued in landfcape gardening, whatever 

 may be the natural charafter or tendency of the furround- 

 ing furface, it is to be reduced, by levelling, to a fmooth, 

 even lawn, or pafture, floping in a gradual manner from 

 the margin of the water. Tliis of courfe caufes a prodi- 

 gious expenditure of money ; and what is ftill more dif- 

 agreeable, it is too frequently quite uncertain, and only 

 capable of being calculated after the finiihing of the whole 

 work. The quantity of cubical yards to be removed in the 

 work of excavating can be eftimated very nearly to a cer- 

 tainty ; but the bufinefs of leveUing is intricate, trouble- 

 fome, and often of great extent ; hence the great excefs of 

 expence which is frequently incurred beyond the eftimate in 

 this refped in pieces of made water. If any one plan ever 

 had the advantage over another, it is contended that certainly 

 piCturefque or natural pieces of water have the full and 

 complete fuperiority over thofe of other kinds in what re- 

 gards expence. In them, it is maintained, the natural cha- 

 rafter of the ground is prefcrved or improved, and confe- 

 quently no expence of levelling is incurred ; the fuperflu- 

 ous earth produced in the procefs of excavating being 

 formed into irregular inequalities, or diftributed along the 

 banks in fuch a manner as to augment or increafe their cha- 

 rafter andpiaurefquenefs,as is evident in numerous inftances. 

 Under other circumftances, vaft expence may often be run 

 into, without much, if any, beauty being produced ; when 

 It could have been effeaed to a great extent by the modes 

 which are here advifed without laying out much money. 

 Farther information on this very interefting fubjeft may be 

 gained by confulting Mr. London's excellent work. 



Water, Rain, Colkaing of, for Farm Ufe, in Rural 

 Economy, the providing it in proper fituations for the 

 purpofe. This praftice was formerly adopted in different 

 parts of the country : as in moft towns, and in the yards, 

 ponds for the ufe of cattle, are ftill to be met with, which 

 have an artificial appearance. In extenfive pafture heavy 

 or about the houfes of many old farm-lands, pools or 

 land diftrifts, pits have evidently been formed by art 

 for the purpofe of catching fuch rain-water as may be 

 brought to them by the ridge-furrows, ditches, or other 

 fuch means, as well as that of land-fprings. The art too 

 has been long praftifed on the fouthem chalk-hill parts of 

 the kingdom, and ftill continues, in a great meafure, to pre- 

 vail ; and on thofe, in fome northern diftrifts, it has been 

 more lately eilabhfhed, and fpreads itfelf on the neighbour- 

 ing heights with vaft benefit. It is certainly neceffary and 

 ufeful in all dry high fituations. It may probably, in fome 

 cafes, alfo be coUefted into fuch pits, from the roofs of the 

 buildings, for fuch purpofes, with much advantage ; though it 

 has been much too common to draw it up, at great labour 

 and expence, from deep vrells formed in the bowels of the 

 earth. 



Lately much more attention has been beftowed on this 

 matter than was formerly the cafe, in moft places, and in 

 fome with the greatell fuccefs and benefit. It (hould never 

 be neglefted where the want of it is confiderable, as live- 

 ftock never do well under fuch circumftances. See Poni>> 

 Made Streams, and Watering Live-Stock. 



Water, Sea, Management of Land gained from, in Agricul- 

 ture, the bringing ground of this fort into cultivation. It 

 has been obferved, that the principal difficulty that can oc- 

 cur in any fituation will be to keep off the water of the 

 rivulets or rivers that may come from the furrounding lands, 

 and to carry away and dehver to the fea the furface-water 

 coUefted from the land gained : the next important con 

 fideration is that of clearing this land of furface incum- 

 brances. It ivill often happen, it js faid, that the gjround 

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