A Six-Dollar Water Garden— By William Macfarknd £ 



JUST THE THING FOR THE SMALLEST CITY YARD — A THREE-BY-FIVE CEMENT BASIN IN 

 WHICH ARE GROWN PINK AND YELLOW WATER LILIES AND THE WATER HYACINTH 



IN my small city yard at Bordentown, N. J., 

 I have a tljree-by-five water garden 

 that has given flowers from June to October. 

 I have had as many as eight water lilies a 

 day. The walls and bottom of the basin are 

 of single brick, laid in cement, and well 



241. The miniature water garden on October 4th, 

 showing the water hyacinth still in bloom 



covered with cement to prevent leakage. 

 The depth of a water garden should not be 

 less than two feet, and the top of the wall 

 not more than two inches above the sur- 

 rounding surface, so that it may be the 

 better protected from frost. After a month's 

 exposure to the weather the pond is ready to 

 be stocked with plants and fish. 



STOCKING THE BASIN 



Early one May I purchased two hardy 

 water lilies at fifty cents each, a Cape Cod 

 pink or Nymphcca odorata var. rosea, and a 

 yellow Nymphcca Marliacea var. chromatclla. 

 The pink blooms well, is beautiful in form 



Photographs by the author 



and color and is deliriously sweet scented. 

 The yellow has spotted leaves, is vigorous 

 of growth and a profuse bloomer. They 

 were planted in boxes about one foot square 

 and deep. The richest soil, or soil and com- 

 post in equal parts, should be used. When 

 they are placed on the bottom of the tank, it 

 may be filled, with water. I use a common 

 hose with which to fill it. 



243. The water hyacinth brought indoors and used 

 for winter decoration. Photographed December 3d 



Except by evaporation and overflow from 

 rains the water in my pond is never changed. 

 Neither have the plants been disturbed during 

 the five years I have had the tank. 



THE WATER nYACINTH 



I find the water hyacinth a delightful addi- 

 tion to the pond. It has floating foliage, 

 suspended roots which purify the water and 



brilliant flowers of intermingled tints of blue 

 during early autumn as shown in photographs 

 made in early October. This plant is 

 tropical and will require artificial heat in 

 winter. A jardiniere with some earth in it 

 filled with water and a sunny window is all 

 it requires. A few young plants may be 

 taken from the pond for the purpose. 



GOLDFISH VS. MOSQUITOES 



Some fish will be an attraction and prevent 

 mosquito breeding. A few small goldfish 



The water garden on June 7th. German 

 bloom. Japanese iris to come later 



242. Water lilies in bloom. Notice the bladders of the water hyacinth, the famous "million-dollar weed' 

 that blocks navigation in Florida rivers. The bladders help the plant to float 



182 



will thrive throughout the year without care, 

 but some crumbs of bread during spring and 

 summer given twice a week will tame them. 

 In early June they will spawn, depositing 

 the eggs on the roots of the water hyacinth. 

 If this be lifted and placed in a separate 

 vessel containing water from the pond, 

 many young fish may be hatched. I succeed 

 well with a tub of water containing the water 

 hyacinth. If left in the pond the young gold- 

 fish will be eaten by their parents. I have 

 never known the water to become foul. 

 Choice fish placed in it five years ago are 

 still flourishing. 



Frogs come and go. Some remain awhile, 

 become tame and spend the winter to sere- 

 nade us in springtime. Birds are attracted 

 too. They drink freely, sit on the floating 

 leaves while they bathe, and delight us with 

 their singing. 



When freezing weather comes the water 

 is lowered eight inches by dipping it out, 

 when a coldframe is placed on. When 

 hard winter sets in additional covering, of 

 leaves or straw, is put around the wall and 

 boards are placed over the coldframe. 



