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Although I have described roughly the
construction of a circular pond, the methods
and principles apply equally to any type,
whether there is an island in the middle,
stepping stones across it, or to a series of small
pools or a lake.
Another type of pond material, however,
is clay, and the manner of working with this
is vastly different. Moreover, it does not lend
itself so readily to intricate design.
The soil, for this kind of pond, is excavated
a foot or more deeper than the various depths.
The entire pond is then lined with straw,
over which lumps of clay are spread. The
clay is then well moistened and ' puddled '
with a rammer until it is spread more or less
evenly over the pond bed. In the country
the puddler, wearing an old pair of boots,
kneads the clay with his feet. I would not
recommend this latter method, however ; the
first time I tried to puddle a pond with my
feet I was so stiff afterwards that it was several
days before I could walk upright again.(Fig 10)
On top of the first layer of clay a layer of
soot an inch thick is spread, this discourages
the worms and other earth boring animals
from perforating the clay and so making the
pond leaky. Over the soot comes another
layer of straw-this helps to bind the clay-
and then the final layer of clay, say four or
five inches thick. A soak-away similar to the
one already described should be made. Owing
to the refractory nature of the clay it is difficult
to make a shelf for the plants, and very few
plants will thrive in clay alone. The shallows
then must slope away from the centre of the
pond slightly, when they can be filled with
loam and gravel in the usual way. Failing
this, the plants may be placed in pots and
lowered into position in the water.
The burnt bricks, rocks or crazy paving
for the edge can be embedded in the clay itself
and I must admit that this part certainly has
a more natural appearance than a cement
edge. Also for small pools, two feet or so in
diameter, puddling is ideal.
When the water is first introduced, there
might be a slight clouding from minute particles of loose clay. If this is drained off, and
the pond carefully filled with water again and
such clouding as may occur allowed to settle,
and then well washed gravel placed in the
pond, it is ready to receive the plants at once.
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