The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-08-08
TO GROW AQUATIC PLANTS
Practical Way of Making and Furnish
ing a Pretty Pond.

ing a Pretty Pond
The following instructions are Of
fered by the London Telegraph to
those possessing a garden in which
a place for hardy aquatics seems feas-
ible: 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 is
nothing better than clay, which will
require preparing. Take, say, a bar
row load and chop it up with a spade;
if rather dry, water it, and work well
until it reaches the consistency Of
dough. Spread this six inches thick
oyer the surface, and make as many
more barrow loads as are needed;
then set your man to tread it all over
with his naked feet, and also use a
hammer. If the clay is well rammed
down the bottom of that pond will
never leak Now, as to the sides.
Prepare more clay and plaster it 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 like
ly to reach, and the surface soil
should be pressed down to the top Of
the clay, or it will get dry and crack
away from the bank. Before filling
in the water cover the bottom with
rich loam-say six inches deep in the
center and carried up to the sides
for making a nice root bed. All will
be now 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 a clean appearance. but, to my
way of thinking, spoils the ~rusticity
and natural appearance Of the
scene. If the surroundings are MOI
grass they should consist Of a wide
gravel path, or the approaches may
be made up Of rock work, inter
spersed with hardy ferns or creeping
plants, such as Cotoneaster micro.
phylla. A piece of masonry repre-.
senting a suitable subject otter
adorns the center of the water, anC
sometimes is used as a fountain; {
few goldfish are also an embellish
ment, but none of the feathered tirbt
is admissible. Aquatic plants vary
considerably in their habits, som,
have a preference for deep water
Others for shallow, while some vii
float on the surface; some, again, ar,
grown in pots which are placed in al
inch or two of water. Those prefer
ring a deep rootbed, like water lilies
are generally planted firmly in small
wicker baskets, the roots surrounded
by soil, with moss strung around t,
keep the bunch together. The Who'll,
is then dropped to the bottom. Il
the case of these lilies it i
not material if the growth i
below the surface at first, as it vii
soon find its way up. The water vi
olet (Hottonia) has both its roots ant
leaves floating, so merely requires +
be laid in the water. In fountain
basins single plants Of many specie
may be cultivated in fancy vases an,
rustic pots placed in the water
which should be changed occasional
ly if not constantly running, orr vii
become covered with water MOSES O
duckweed. The difficulty, however
may be got over in another way-b
skimming or flooding these growth
of. Ifsoil is put into the bottom
should consist of six inches Of goo
rich loan, and covered with an inc
Of white stones sifted out of silve
sand or other pebbles. This clea
s%urfacing should be sprinkled i
some days before planting.
1t Takes Years to Climb.