The Farm Fishpond 



203 s 



Fk;. 202. — Water weed 



themselves eaten to a slij^ht extent by herbivorous fishes. The milfoil 

 and the crowfoot remain green throughout the winter. None of these, 

 with the possible exception of the 

 crowfoot will become obnoxious from 

 excessive growth. They should be 

 planted where the water is twelve or 

 . eighteen inches deep. 



The water weed (Elodea) forms 

 very dense masses excellent as shel- 

 ter for food animals and as spawning 

 places for goldfish and golden shiners, 

 where their eggs and fry may develop 

 unmolested. Care should be taken, 

 however, to keep the water weeds 

 grouped and to prevent the masses 

 from extending over too much of the 

 pond area. 



Water cress {Radicula nasturthim- 

 aquaticum) is valuable along the 

 margin of the pond, where the 

 masses furnish retreats for fresh- 

 water shrimps, snails, and certain insects. The cress is also a valuable 

 salad plant and should therefore be grown where it may be easily picked. 



The duckweeds (Spirodela and Lemna) constitute one of the best 

 vegetable foods for goldfish, and where the latter are present these plants 

 will never become obnoxious. The fact that duckweed is a floating 

 plant is in its disfavor, for if it becomes very abundant, trouble will be 

 experienced in keeping the outlet screens clean. 



The white- and the yellow-flowering water-lilies (Castalia odorata and 

 NymphcBa advena) are valuable for their attractive blossoms, for sheltering 

 the bottom of the pond from the heat of the sun. and for the numerous 

 minute organisms that live on the stems. Sunfish and large-mouthed bass 

 will often build their nests on the roots of water Ulies. They seem also 

 to prefer the shelter afforded by the broad, floating leaves of the white 

 lily to that afforded by many other plants. On rich soil these plants 

 may eventually take possession of the pond at the expense of other more 

 desirable forms; therefore it is well to keep them in clumps and when 

 too much spreading is imminent to remove the offending shoots. If 

 some of the outer rootstocks are removed each fall, lilies are not likely 

 to become a nuisance. 



There are certain other plants commonly recommended by fish culturists 

 jnclucJing th§ filgae Cbara an4 Nit^Ufl; rnorg C0mm9n\j c.^\M Wfiter IH95S; 



