DEW-PONDS.
(To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR."'
Kerner-Greenwood's letter in your issue of December 24th gives information as to the making of dew-ponds which should be of considerable value to the hundreds of farmers who are so embarrassed by want of water. But does he sufficiently accentuate the need of the utmost care and strict supervision in the laying of the straw and the clay so that the heat insu- lating properties of the former, and the water-proof qualities of the latter, are properly utilized? A botched or uneven straw layer will reduce the efficiency of the scheme, and a gap in the clay will ruin it entirely, as the water will quickly fill up the interstices in the straw by gravity or by hygroscopic attraction for the higher levels of the pond. May I ask if lubber has ever been tried to act as both heat insulator and water-proof cover? As a rubber manufacturer I think that a fair quality rubber flooring, with edges solutioned together, should be more efficient and probably little dearer than the straw and clay method mentioned, but I should like to know what is the price per square yard of the latter method, all in.-
Previous page
