Evening star., 1903-07-28
AQUATIC PLANTS.
A Practical Way to Make Them Grow
Successfully.

From the London Telegraph.
The following Instructions are offered to
those possessing a garden in which a place
for hardy auUatlcs seems feasible: In the
lowest part of the ground dig out the soil
to a depth sloping from one foot at the
sides to three feet in the center, In any
shape that Is preferred. Then make it hold
water, for which purpose there ls nothing
better than clay. which will require prepar-
ing. Take. say. a barrow load and chop it
up with a spade If rather dry water II and
work it we'll until it reaches the consistency
of dough Spread this six inches thick
over the surface and make as many more
ba rrow loads are needed then set your
man to tread it all over with his naked feet.
and also use rammer. If the clay IS We'll
ra1nmed down the bottom Of that pond Will
never leak Now to the sides. prepar"
more clay and plaster 1t on commencing
at the bottom: then beat it thoroughly
with a short-handled wooden mallet or
back of a spade. The clay should be quite
six inches thick here. be very pure and
without stones. and laid on several inches
higher than the water is likely to reach.
and the surface soil should be pressed down
to the top Of the clay. or 1t will get dry
and crack away from the bank.
Before filing in water cover the bottom
with rich loam-say. six inches deep in the
center and carried up to the sides-for MAX
ing a nice root bed. All Will now be ready
for letting In the water, and here comes
the rub. The advice is to think out the
means for the water supply and disposal
before you commence the labor of digging
out a pond. Some put a coating of cement
on top of the clay. which certainly gives
q clean appearance. but to my way of think
ing spoils the rusticity and natural appear
ance of the scene. If the surroundings are
not grass they should consist Of wide
gravel path. or the approaches may be
made up Of rock work. interspersed with
hardy ferns or creeping plants such as
Cotoneaster microphyla. A piece of ma
scnry representing a suitable subject often
adorns the center Of the water. and some
times is used a fountain a few goldfish
are also an establishment. but none of the
feathered tribe is admissible Aquatic plants
vary considerably in their habits. some
having a preference for deep water. others
for shallow. while some will float on the
surface: some again. are grown In pots
which are placed in an inch or two of wa
ter.
Those preferring a deep rootbed, like wa
ter lilies. are generally planted firmly in
small wicker baskets the roots surrounded
by soil. with moss strung around to keep
the bunch together. The whole is then
dropped to the bottom. In the of these
lilies 1t is not material If the growth is be-
low the surface at first. it will soon find
Its way up. The water violet (hottonia)
has both it's roots and leaves floating, so
merely requires to be laid in the water. In
fountain basins single plants of many spe-
cies may be cultivated in fancy vases and
rustic pots placed in the water. which
should be changed occasionally If not con-
stantly running. or 1t will become covered
with water mosses or duckweed. The diff
f1culty, however. may be got over In an
other way-by skimming or flooding these
growths off. If soil is put into the bottom
1t should consist of six inches of good rich
loam and covered with an inch of white
stones Sifted out of silver sand other
pebbles. This clean surfacng should be-
sprinkled in some days after planting.