Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/441

419&#93; PON iT^ay come in contaft with the next following, till the sides iind bottom of the intended pond are perfettly lined. If the whole cannot be finished in one day, the last row laid on in the evening should be moistened, in order that it may be sufficiently adhesive ; to incorpo- rate exadly with the new part of the work on the subsequent morn- ing. — Two or three days after this composition is applied, it should be beaten with a flat piece of wood ; and, accordingly as its firm- ness increases, the beating must be stronger, and the surface occa- sionally wetted, to prevent cracks, till it become one uniform, solid piece. Lastly, the whole is to be PON [419 covered with a coat of any cheap. oil } and (previously to the admis- sion of water), with gravel, to the thickness of one inch. By this ma- nagement, the coating will acquire a very remarkable degree of firm- ness J and, if the pond be constant- ly fall, no repairs will become ne- cessary ; as the only injury to bei. apprehended, may proceed from in- tense frost, which is apt to damage such parts of the work as are ex- posed to the air. In the sixth volume of Annals of Agriculture, an account is given of, a simple method of making fl?-/{)?t7«/ ponds; in dry soils : — the subjoined cut represents an outline of their coastrudion. -afm^ -i The line A, describes a circular hole made in the ground, of such size as may be found necessary 3 and on which a stratum of clay, B, must be carefully beaten, and trod- den into a solid, compact body, from four to si.>4 inches in thickness. C, represents a layer of quick- lime about an inch, or an inch and a half thick ; and which should be uniformly spread over the whole. D, is a second stratum of clay, that ought to be of a thickness si- milar to that above-mentioued, and should be pressed down in the same manner. E, denotes stones, or gravel, either of which must be spread on the second layer of clay, to such depth as may prevent the pond from being injured by the feet of cattle j for otherwise, ihey will penetrate the stratifications of clay and lime ; in consequence of which, the water will be discharged through the pores of the earth. When thus completed, acc(jrcling to the se6tion above given, the pond v>. ill remain five feet deep, and forty-five in diameter; at which size these reservoirs are in general constructed ; — the letter F.. repre- senting the line of level, both of the water and of the ground. This method of forming ponds was contrived in Yorkshire, about 25 or 30 years ago, by a well- sinker: — numerous artificial pools liave since been made in that, as well as the adjoining counties. The c.xpences attending a work of the Ee2 dimeu'^