ii2 LANDSCAPE-GARDENING 



of the dam may be an earth embankment which 

 should be carried well above high-water mark. 

 In the center of this embankment a core wall should 

 be constructed - - not for strength, but to keep 

 muskrats and other water animals from burrow- 

 ing through. A thin wall will answer the purpose, 

 but it should be carried well into the bank on either 

 side. It need not extend above high water in the 

 lake. If the earth embankment is broadened where 

 it joins the natural bank, and planted in harmony 

 with the growth along the sides of the lake, it will 

 aid in giving a natural appearance. Earth em- 

 bankments, even when built of sand and gravel, 

 may be made water-tight by mixing clay in the 

 stream which they obstruct, the sand filtering out 

 the clay from the water flowing through the em- 

 bankment until all interstices are closed. The 

 bottom of artificial lakes may be made tight by a 

 layer of puddled clay. If a sand or gravel bottom 

 is desired, these materials can be placed on top of 

 this waterproof layer. 



There are advantages and disadvantages in stock- 

 ing a lake with fish. If the water is cold enough, 

 trout and bass would be unobjectionable. Carp, 

 while keeping the water free from certain objec- 



