96 Flow to obtain tt. 
‘covers the bottom with a rich grass-like carpet, and at once forms 
a refuge for a large quantity of animalcule, shell fish, etc., the 
latter attaching their spawn to its leaves very freely. It grows 
readily in almost any reasonable depth of water, say from a foot 
to ten feet or more, and is one of the most harmless plants we 
possess. It can never interfere with fishing in: any way, it never 
needs thinning, and no matter how much it may spread, it can 
never become a pest. Being a valuable food producer, it is an 
exceedingly desirable addition to our fish ponds, and should be 
largely planted. One of the best methods of doing this is to 
lower the water a little, and dibble in the plants in small groups, 
varying from three or four to twenty plants, according to the 
quantity to be planted and the size of the pond. The plants 
spread laterally, so that it is only a question of time for them to 
cover the whole bottom of the pond. In waters which cannot be 
lowered, the plants may be tied to small stones, and dropped into 
the water in suitable places. Where this plan is adopted, several 
may be tied to one stone, care been taken that they are not 
bound too tightly. They may also be planted in rough shallow 
boxes and sunk in the lake, or in flat baskets, which may be 
treated in the same way. I have known a case in which a large 
number were sorted into bunches of eight or ten, and these 
consecutively tied on a string, somewhat like the papers on the 
tail of a kite. A stone was tied to each end of the string, and it 
was then sunk in the water, care being taken to stretch it well, so 
that the plants could not rise, but must stay on the bottom, into 
which they soon sent their roots. 
The next plant which is to be recommended is the charming 
little water lobelia (Lobelia Dortmanna), and the only objection 
that can be raised to it is, that it sends up a single flower stem 
above the surface of the water. This drawback, however, is not 
worth a moment’s consideration, as they can be readily cut and 
will not again reappear the same year. With the exception of the 
flower stem it only reaches a height of some two inches, and does 
not spread unduly. It is indeed a very desirable little plant to 
introduce, and is propagated by seed. The root consists of 
numerous white fibres, and the leaves, which are fairly numerous, 
are arranged in a somewhat star-like form at the bottom of the 
