WATER 113 



tionable weeds, usually stir up the bottom so that 

 the water becomes muddy. This is also true of 

 goldfish. Mosquitoes in the larva state (wig- 

 glers) are eaten by fish. A lake which is large enough 

 to be stirred by the wind will be free from wigglers 

 except where the water is kept stationary by cat- 

 tails or other water-loving plants. Mosquitoes are 

 sometimes killed by the application of kerosene 

 or other oils to the surface of the water. A lake 

 has so many attractions that one can afford to take 

 some trouble to keep it free from weeds and mos- 

 quitoes. 



To insure a lake's appearing at its best, the banks 

 should be low at those points of the shore over 

 which the water is most frequently observed (Fig. 23). 

 Thus, borders nearest a veranda or the windows of a 

 house from which the lake is seen should be low so 

 that the surface of the water will be visible its en- 

 tire length in the line of view. On the other hand, 

 banks which are seen meeting the water each side 

 of a view may be steep and high and covered with 

 a high growth. A list of plants suitable for cov- 

 ering the low borders would include Virginia creepers 

 and other vines, violets, marsh marigolds, certain 

 kinds of iris, grass of Parnassus, bluets, forget- 



