CHAPTER III. 
FISH PONDS—-CULTIVATION CONTINUED. 
Marginal plants—Insect life—Plants for deep water—Plants to avoid— 
Advantages of water lilies—Bottom-covering plants—A fish-eating plant—Ponds 
at Washington—Mollusca—Crustacee—Eels—How to catch them. 
ANY of the marginal plants are very interesting, and all are 
more or less ornamental. The great spearwort (Ranunculus 
Jingua) with its handsome yellow flowers is one of these. 
The lesser spearwort (Ranunculus flammula) is another plant 
which grows freely at the edges of lakes, and although its natural 
habitat is oftener in bogs and ditches yet it is a very useful little 
plant, which I have frequently grown extensively in raceways and 
fry nurseries. When submerged in water a foot deep it sends up 
long stems supporting floating leaves and becomes an interesting 
looking aquatic. I have often recommended it for the aquarium, 
where it has given great satisfaction. It is very hardy and will 
grow in almost any place where there is moisture. There are 
several closely allied species. 
Another plant that is easily grown is the brooklime ( Veronica 
beccabunga). This also is a very useful plant, and being hardy 
succeeds anywhere. It is said to be very good for cattle, and it 
is certainly in its right place at the edge of a fish pond. 
One of the most beautiful of our marginal plants is the bog- 
bean (Menyanthes trifoliata), which grows either in the water or 
out of it. It delights in the border of a lake where there is a bed 
of soil or turf from which it can spring, and from this it will grow 
out as a floating plant, sometimes for many feet. It is very 
amenable to cultivation, and the exquisite flowers are often much 
improved thereby. Before opening they are of a bright rose tint, 
