236 THE NEW GARDENING 



When the flower-lover is making a pool from level 

 ground he may mark it out of a size and shape to suit 

 his own fancy. With a handful of pegs and a few yards 

 of cord he can form the outline of the pool before he 

 puts tool to ground. Indeed, it is wise to adopt this 

 plan, because when the ground is pegged and lined out 

 a person with ordinary imaginative powers can form a 

 very good idea of what the basin will look like when the 

 excavating has been done and it is ready for the water. 

 If the prospect is not pleasing alterations in the design 

 can be made in a few moments by shifting a peg or two, 

 whereas if the basin is prepared without forethought any 

 modifications which may be necessary will be laborious 

 and costly. 



Another important question ought to be settled before 

 the tools are brought into play, and that is whether the 

 bed and sides of the basin will require treatment in order 

 to make them capable of retaining the water. If the 

 soil is stiff and retentive, such as clay or marl, and the 

 site is near sea-level, or one where water could be col- 

 lected from a considerable area of ground into a hollow, 

 nothing may be required. If, however, the soil is light 

 and porous, and especially if the site is elevated, steps 

 will have to be taken to make the basin water-tight. The 

 reason why this matter should be considered at the 

 outset is that if " waterproofing " is necessary a con- 

 siderable part of it can be done with advantage before 

 the basin is formed. All that is needed is to cut a narrow 

 trench of the depth which it is desired to have the out- 

 skirts of the pool say eighteen inches round the 

 marking-out pegs, substitute for the soil rammed con- 

 crete, and let it set. In other words, the gardener forms 

 the outline of his pool with a shell of concrete before he 

 starts to excavate. The thickness of the shell may be 



