THE DEW-POND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 237, 6 October 1932, Page 9

THE DEW-POND.

A REMARKABLE PICTURE. NATURE'S WATER SUPPLY. MOISTURE FROM THE AIR. Only the dew-pond on the height, Unfed, that never fails. We publish to-day a remarkably interesting photograph of a Wiltshire dew-pond. The Southdown sheep —txie breed is known throughout the world, but probably attains fullest perfection

in ite native surroundings —are seen wending their way along the sheep tracks to drink and to cool themselves in the water.

Dew-ponds are not fed by springs or wells, but are actually great shallow

basins made of clay and straw by a craft which ie probably one of the oldest in the world. The pond is kept continually full by the distillation of moisture from the atmosphere. It is made in such a position as not to be filled by running surface water, and the supply is obtained entirely from the rainfall and the dew. Experience has shown that dew-ponds maintain a supply of water for eheep and other stock even in periods of prolonged dry weather, when other water holes fail.

It is impossible to say when the earliest dew-ponds were made. Some authorities have given a neolithic origin, but the evidence of that is more imaginary than real. It is certain, however, that for many centuries they have supplied sheep with water on the Sussex Downs and on the high uplands of Wiltshire. The technical ekill neuassary for the making of these ponds hae been confined to a few families, which for generations have been acknowledged experts in the art.