Fourteen] qttatCJ3 167 



drainage, etc., or it may be made at a cost of from 

 five to thirty dollars, according to size. Five or six 

 by eight, or eight by ten or twelve feet, will be found 

 convenient sizes, as they will admit of reaching the 

 centre. The basin should be about two feet deep 

 when completed, and if of clay the soil should be 

 wet and made as hard and smooth as possible. If 

 the soil is loose and sandy it will need a coat of clay 

 before applying the cement. This may be done by 

 mixing the clay with water to the consistency of 

 mortar and applying in any convenient way. Allow 

 this to dry before using the cement. A neat curb- 

 ing will greatly improve the appearance of the 

 pond. 



When the cement is perfectly dry, place six inches 

 of old, well-rotted manure in the bottom of the basin, 

 and cover with eight or ten inches of muck. Make 

 this smooth and level, and cover with one or two 

 inches of clean white sand to keep the water clear 

 and sightly and prevent the muck from rising to the 

 surface. Fill with hose or watering-pot, letting the 

 pond overflow until the water is clear and the sand 

 firm and smooth, when it is ready for plants. 



When a permanent bed of this kind is out of the 

 question, a large zinc tub, or half a hogshead, will 

 make a small water-garden. These would better be 

 raised somewhat above the surface of the ground to 

 protect them from decay. Three small five-inch 

 drain-tiles laid sidewise make a good foundation, 



