The day after employ four pair of tumbrels more, to fetch earth out of
the pan of the pond to lay along the bank on each side of the bed of
clay, the whole length of the head; and to this work, two labourers for a
pair of tumbrels are enough.
Here you must lay on six labourers at least, to ram the bed of clay, and
spread earth upon the bank, so that it may be done as fast as the six
tumbrels supply it; and by this means the bank and bed of clay will rise
together.
Thus you proceed till the bank is finished, which will rise faster as
you come nearer the top, and so will somewhat alter the employment of
the tumbrels and men, which you must conform in proportion accordingly.
And observing these directions, you may make two ponds in one month
(supposing the weather propitious), which shall be three, four, or five
acres apiece, as the ground gives, and not expend in money above eighty
pounds, although you pay for every hour’s work of man and horse.
But considering that a gentleman is supposed to intend this business, not
only as a care, but an entertainment, he will not suffer his own servants
and horses to be without a share of it; and then I cannot imagine which
way he can expend above sixty pounds, supposing labourers work for twelve
pence per day, which I cannot say they will do in all countries.
The third pond may be a work of another year; and if the ground lies
fair for it, that is, much upon a level, I would not be without it; for
it will add much to the ornament of your estate, because it will fill up
a range or string of waters, which two do not; and besides contribute
vastly to the increase of fish, as I shall shew; and I press this thing
the rather, because without it, in the method I propose, you will have
the use of but one pond as to water every year. Nay, were not œconomy,
and saving charge, one great branch of my design, I should recommend more
of these waters, if the place will receive them.
And to demonstrate the charge is not so very great, compared with the
other expences gentlemen are at for their diversion, without any return
of profit, as to deter any from undertaking this particular work; I
must remember, that once, at the command of my Lord North, I did, as I
have directed, proceed to the making one great pond, and one stew, at
Catledge, which are still to be seen, but neglected; and besides, the
regard to profit by the fish they would maintain and supply, the very
ornament of them was worth the charge. I was limited to ten pounds,
besides the work of his lordship’s horses, which I compute to be four
pounds more; so the whole did not cost fifteen pounds, and yet a full
acre of ground lay under water, and all was completed in twelve days. His
lordship would not allow the laying down a sluice, else that water was a
specimen of my proposition, as well for the conduct, as the charge of the
work.
_Of Auxiliary Waters._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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