28 WATER-LILIES 



away the accumulated dirt, sodded the mar- 

 gins around the garden, and permitted the 

 ladies of the household to plant gladioli, 

 nasturtiums and the hke in the neighbour- 

 hood, while a cluster of hollyhocks at one end 

 served further to break the monotony. The 

 first lily opened fifty-eight days after setting 

 out the plants, and from that time the plants 

 were in almost continual bloom until late in 

 the autumn, as many as twelve blossoms 

 being open at one time. 



"The mould used in forming the tank was 

 made of waste lumber and consisted of four 

 parts: a lower bottom-forming frame, a core 

 or inside box, an outside casing or box, and a 

 coping-forming frame. The hole having been 

 dug slightly larger than the finished basin 

 was to be, the bottom frame (A) was first 

 placed therein. This frame, formed of old 

 2x4 scantlings arranged on edge, had inside 

 dimensions equal to the outside dimensions 

 of the bottom of the tank, and after having 

 been placed in position, it was filled level with 

 concrete, thoroughly tamped or packed. 



