Stream and Pond Gardens 



natural plantings of streamside, lake, and pond, and if 

 the possessor of the small garden is fortunate enough 

 to have a little stream running through, or at the end 

 of the site, much pleasure can be derived therefrom. 

 Such cases are, however, rare, and the inclination is 

 always to endeavour to make such artificial pools as 

 the area will accommodate to look as natural as pos- 

 sible. This can be done either in association with the 

 rock garden, or as a simple pond in the portion of the 

 grounds that are treated more freely as wild gardens. 

 The average production is, however, rarely a very 

 happy-looking concern, because insufficient care is 

 taken to obliterate the necessary constructional work. 

 A very natural-looking pool can be made, however, if 

 the work is carefully carried out, and the owner does 

 not object to moving more soil than is usually done. 

 With regard to the shape little need be said, as this 

 will depend on the individual taste of the owner. It 

 should, however, be remembered that tortuous, or 

 erratic, lines are not necessarily natural, and that here, 

 as elsewhere, the keynote of success is simplicity. 



The principal difficulty in making artificial pools 

 look natural is in hiding the cement edge, but this can 

 be overcome if the following instructions are carefully 

 adhered to, and it is indeed unnecessary that the 

 minutest particle of cement be seen. Excavate the 

 pool in such a way that the earth all round will slope 

 down to the water level. This is imperative for many 

 reasons, not the least being that such a pool in Nature 

 would usually be found at the lowest level of the ground. 

 The depth of the actual excavation of the pool should 



