Gardening for Amateurs 



567 



An amateur's small pond. 



Stream Gardens, Pools and Ponds 



A LOW -LYING position should be 

 chosen for the site of a water 

 garden, for water invariably seeks 

 the lowest level. A certain amount of 

 excavation is advisable, and the soil so 

 obtained can be used to give an undulating 

 effect to the surroundings. However 

 small the scale, the ground not contained 

 in beds or under water ought to be 

 covered by turf, as this form of approach is 

 enjoyable throughout summer and autumn, 

 when water plants are at their best. In 

 some gardens there are to be found derelict 

 bogs and waste marshy places which may 

 be converted into water gardens at com- 

 paratively small expense ; in small gardens 

 these special facilities are rarely present, 

 and the site needs choosing with care. A 

 position near large trees should be avoided, 



as the water attracts their roots and it is 

 only possible to exclude these permanently 

 by using concrete, made of Portland cement 

 and sand. The aspect need not be the 

 sunniest, as the majority of aquatics and 

 bog plants will succeed in slight shade ; how- 

 ever, the portion devoted to Water Lilies 

 must be in full sunshine. 



The Depth of Water in lake, pond, or 

 pool should be varied to meet the require- 

 ments of the various plants ; for the strongest- 

 growing Water Lilies a depth of 30 inches of 

 water is necessary, those of moderate vigour 

 thrive in water 18 to 24 inches deep, and 

 the pigmy varieties are quite satisfactory 

 in water 12 to 18 inches deep ; the latter 

 depth also meets the requirements of most 

 other aquatics. The utility of a pond or 

 lake is greatest when the sides are shelved, 



