The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-07-09
10 GROW AQUATIC PLANTS.
Practical Way Of Making and Furnish
IND a Pretty Pond.

Gractlcal way OF making q kUrn1Sns
Ing a Pretty Pond.
The following instructions are Of
fered by the London Telegraph to
those possessing q garden in which
a place for hardy aquatics seems feas-
ible: In the lowest part Of the
ground dig out the soil to q 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
over 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 often
adorns the center Of the water, and
sometimes is used as a fountain; q
few goldfish are also an embellish-
ment, but none Of the feathered TRIBE
is admissible. Aquatic. plants vary
considerably in their habits, some
have a preference for deep water,
others for shallow, while some will
float on THE surface; some, again, are
grown in, pots which are placediin an,
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 to
keep the bunch together! The whole
is then dropped to the bottom. In
the case of these lilies it is
not material if the growth is
below the surface at first, as it will.
soon find its way up. The water Vi
elet (Hottonia) has both its roots and
leaves floating, SO merely requires to
be laid in the water. In fountain
basins single plants of many species
may be cultivated in fancy vases and
rustic pots placed in the water,
which should be changed occasional
" if not constant. r running, oritwill
become covered with water MOSES or
duckweed. The difficulty, however,
may be got over in another wuy-by
skimming or food ing these growths
off. If soil is put into the bottom it
should consist of six inches Of good
rich loan, and. covered with an inch
of white stones sifted ont of silver
sand or other pebbles. This clean
%surfacing she uld be sprinkled in
some days bestore planting.