286 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



January, 1908 



The concrete retaining wall of the hillside pool is hidden all summer by the vigorous growth of plants on 



the margins. This shows the view in early spring 



A pond constructed in this manner is per- to reduce even a wheelbarrow load of clay to 



haps less costly than any other but a puddled an absolutely homogeneous mass by working 



pond. For an area 10 x 24 ft. the cost it over and over is no sinecure, 

 would be about as follows: 



_ „ THE ART OF PUDDLING 



Excavating, 1 man, 1 day jS 2.00 



Mixing granitoid, sifting cinders, puddling, etc., This is the process: Clamp together several 



1 man, i day 2.00 boards so as to make a platform, say 6x10 ft. 



Cement and granite, also clay 30.00 Spread the clay> a wheelbarrow load at a 



Total %4-°o t j me> on t k e boards, and with a spade, chop it 



A 10 x 24 ft. pond is of course, quite big, up thoroughly. No lumps larger than a 



and if one is satisfied with something on a walnut should remain. Remove all sticks, 



smaller scale, say 8x4 ft., the cost is reduced stones, etc. ; then, adding a little water, begin 



considerably. to pound, using a wooden maul and do not 



While puddled ponds are the most econom- stop pounding until a perfectly homogeneous 



ical to construct they probably require most mass, of the consistency of putty, has been 



in the way of repairs. Besides, they are obtained. This puddled clay is spread 



possible only where necessary material — evenly over the pond bottom and beaten 



a heavy clay — is ready at hand. The first down as laid. A layer four inches thick 



steps of their construction are the same as suffices, so that for a pond twenty feet in 



for all other ponds, but an artificial pond length, and with an average width of ten feet, 



where no concrete has been used, must be seven to eight loads of puddled clay will be 



made water-tight by special means. For ample. The cost of this material is generally 



such a purpose there is no better material about five dollars, including hauling, pud- 



than puddled clay — clay that has been dling, etc. 



made homogeneous and very plastic. The clay is fairly impervious to water and 



Unless you absolutely feel the need of exer- is not injured by freezing. The margins, 



cising your muscles, it is better to get some from mean water level to a depth of twelve 



unskilled labor to do this preparation. For, inches, may be lined with stones pounded 



into the clay. This prevents washing away 

 by ripples or by moving ice. It is also 

 advisable to cover the clay bottom with a 

 few inches of sand so that the puddling may 

 be protected and the mud not so easily 

 stirred up. ( If this process is carried out 

 consistently, an absolutely water-tight pond 

 will result. The puddling is carried up to 

 within three inches of the rim. 



When an existing pond is to be converted 

 for the growing of water-lilies, the two things 

 to be provided are the outline, and a proper 

 depth of water at all times. The outline 

 depends largely on surrounding conditions 

 and no hard and fast rules can be laid down. 

 The water level should be two feet above the 

 bottom of the pond. Ordinarily this will 

 necessitate the construction of a small dam, 

 which is easily made of grass sods. First 

 empty the pond and then excavate to a depth 

 of four feet where the dam is to be. Then 

 put in the sod. Make the dam four feet 

 wide at the base and at least two and one-half 

 feet wide at the top, and thoroughly cover 

 the sides with puddled clay. 



The one great drawback to puddled ponds 

 is the susceptibility to attacks of crawfish; 

 they may become a source of great annoyance 

 not only because they cut off the young leaves 

 and even the buds, but also because they bore 

 deep holes through the bottom of the pond, 

 practically turning it into a sieve. Here an 

 ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 

 Six or seven days before planting, nearly 

 empty the pond. Thousands of crawfish, 

 both young and old, will be seen. Sprinkle 

 tobacco dust plentifully, which will kill all 

 crawfish, and all other animal life, which 

 later may advantageously be replaced by a 

 generous supply of goldfish. In a couple of 

 days flush the pond and empty it once more 

 to clean it out and to repuddle where neces- 

 sary. If this operation # is repeated each 

 year, the crawfish never become a source of 

 serious danger to the well-being of the 

 water-garden. 



Eels have been known to push through the 

 clay of a puddled pond, but this so seldom 

 happens that it hardly need to be taken into 

 consideration. 



It is often desirable to drain a pGnd, in 

 order to repair its walls, to clean it out, or 

 to replant or take in tender species for the 



I 



The bottom and sides of an earth basin are made water-light by a 4-inch layer 



of puddled clay 



A formal cement pond: 



Victorias occupy the central Dasin. and water-lilies are 

 grown in the outer pockets 



