Evening star., 1949-09-02
This and That
By Charles E. TraceyeU
"KEARNEY STREET NE.


Dear Sir:
In my mothers backyard is a fish and
lily pond 6 feet long, feet wide and feet
deep. In this pond there are approximately
18 goldfish and almost the entire surface is
covered with lily pads.
''The neghbors believe that this pond is
breeding mosquitoes and as I am responsible
for the upkeep of her property would like
to know If this is true and If so what pre-
ventatiye measures I can take.
Il may be wrong. but say because of
the plant growth the water Is not stagnant,
and because Of the Ash the larvae would be
eaten by them.
I, about three years ago drained the pond
and removed the silt that had settled to the
i bottom. Since then 1t has not been cleaned.
Would this have anything to do with it?
II would appreciate any advice you could
give me on this as want to do the right
thing for the neighbors
MY father. prior to his death. often
quoted from your columns. He encouraged us
to feed the birds and this we have passed
on to our children. They play a game every
morning to see who will be the first to find
a hummingbird in the mimosa tree outside
of our sun porch.
There is also q nondescript looking black
bird that stays around the yard. We have
named him Ichabod and he sure looks like
him.
"As a hobby. we raise parakeets and white
mice. 1t seems fitting and proper that the
children should go to q school which bears
the name Of John Burroughs
Sincerely, H. D. L."
There is always possibility Of mosquitoes
around pools, but they are just as likely to
come from small puddles or stagnant places
utterly unknown to any one. Also, they may
fly in from such places ct some distance.
So 1t is impossible for any one to say def
nitely that pond is breeding mosquitoes"
unless the larvae can be found there.
For this reason, the best solution OF such
a problem is to call up the Health Depart
ment and ask that an inspector look over
the pool.
Then accept his findings and his advice.
Often they suggest that various mosquito
eating fish, such as the gambusia, be put
in the pool.
These small devils are fast, and prime
consumers of both mosquitoes and their
larvae, but the goldfish, being small carp.
and therefore excellent feeders, probably
will eat the gambusias!
Coating q pool with oil, as is done with
stagnant places at times, will kill all the
Ash, and therefore is no solution for
garden pool.
Among the best mosquito destroyers are
The sunfish, goldfish, killies, tar-headed min
nows, brook silversides and top minnows.
Even the little guppy is good mosquito
killer
But the trouble with the little fellows, such
as the gambusia and the guppy, is that the
goldfish will eat them. Plenty OF water
plants, however give the little f1sh chance
to live.
Ali such tropical specimens must be re-
moved from the pool by the middle OF Sep
tember, at the latest.
In q 4-foot-deep pool, separation OF tiny
specimens is difficult task at best.
It is best to clean pool every year in the
spring, with dividing and replanting of the
lilies.
Plants should not cover more than three
fourths Of the water surface.
Water lilies do best with new soil at least
every three years, but replacement every
two years is believed better.
Goldfish should destroy mosquito wrig-
glers in q garden pool, but 1t is good idea to
wash of the lily leaves with a spray from
the hose every few days. especially in rain
less summer.
Danger from mosquitoes is small, in
sense, compared with the 4-foot depth,
always q source of danger to small children.
Attention to general pool hygiene will keep
down the mosquitoes which, after all, can
not be excessive with goldfish present, pro-
vided they are not given too much prepared
food but are made to rustic up their own
dinners.