May, 1 9 13 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



Vll 



est pleasure to their owners are parts of 

 homes of moderate or very small cost. In- 

 genuity counts for more than mere dollars 

 and cents. 



In arranging a swimming pool its loca- 

 tion must be carefully considered. It 

 should naturally be placed in a part of the 

 grounds where at least some degree of 

 privacy may be secured. "Where the 

 grounds do not extend over a great era 

 the swimming pool may be so screened by 

 planting that the necessary privacy may be 

 obtained : the spot may be surrounded by 

 tall growing shrubbery or a clipped hedge 

 or else by trellises over which vines may be 

 grown. The space between the pool and 

 the surrounding shrubbery may be covered 

 with grass and its smooth green surface 

 will add much to the beauty of the spot. 

 For the convenience of neighbors a shelter 

 of some kind should be provided. Such a 

 shelter may be constructed of wood treated 

 in almost any way ; nothing would be more 

 appropriate than one of rustic work or 

 covered with birch bark, or even of shingles 

 either stained or weathered. 



If the country house should be so for- 

 tunate as to have a small stream flowing 

 through its grounds, the problem may be 

 greatly simplified ; for thus would be solved 

 the problem of water supply which is some- 

 times the detail most difficult of solution. 

 Where this natural means of water supply 

 is not available one must naturally depend 

 upon the source which supplies the water 

 for other departments of the country home. 

 A very successful swimming pool was once 

 constructed by merely broadening out one 

 spot in its course. The stream therefore 

 flowed through the swimming pool, and as it 

 was sheltered beneath over-hanging bowers 

 of several old trees, its aspect was very 

 rural. 



The demensions of a swimming pool must, 

 of course, depend very largely upon con- 

 ditions which vary so greatly that size 

 must be determined by circumstances. This 

 may also be said of the depth, although 

 some very successful swimming pools are 

 so arranged that they incline, being about 

 three feet deep at one end and eight or 

 ten feet deep at the opposite end, so that 

 those not yet able to swim and also those 

 more experienced bathers may find the pool 

 equally attractive. A spring board which 

 may be easily arranged, by using a plank of 

 oak or pine, and would, of course, add 

 greatly to the enjoyment of the bathers 

 either large or small. 



In this day of the manufacturing of all 

 kinds of concrete, cement and other plastic 

 materials, the problem of a material for 

 use in building a swimming pool need not 

 be difficult. Concrete is frequently used 

 and in other instances the walls are merely 

 bricked up ; the floors being also made of 

 brick with the surface covered with cement. 

 Tile in its various forms may be used and in 

 fact almost any material which presents a 

 surface easily kept clean would be suitable. 

 Care must be taken to provide some plan 

 by which the water may be frequently re- 

 newed. It is therefore necessary to arrange 

 an outlet by which the pool may be readily 

 drained. Such an outlet would, of course, 

 be at the bottom of the tank while the pipes 

 supplying fresh water would be at the top. 



A few years since the planning of a coun- 

 try home made necessary the removal of an 

 old building resting upon a stone founda- 

 tion and having a cellar about nine feet 

 deep. When the super-structure had been 

 removed the workmen were about to dis- 

 mantel the heavy and solid masonery when 

 it was seen that a wonderful opportunity for 

 :mming pool was afforded. The old 

 cellar was floored with white concrete, the 



"Mamma's gone away — and I don't care!" 



Neither does Mamma — this floor is finished with "61" Floor 

 Varnish. It is water-proof, heel-proof and mar-proof. 



"61" Floor Varnish gives a tough, durable 

 finish that does not scratch nor show heel marks 

 on old or new floors and linoleums. Withstands 

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Send for Free Floor Booklet and Sample Panel 



finished with "61" and test it yourself. Hit it 

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 varnish won't crack. Another booklet, Deco- 

 rative Interior Finishing will interest you. 

 Sent free upon request. 



Pratt & Lambert Varnish Products are used by painters, specified 

 Address all inquiries to Pratt & Lambert- Inc., 119 Tonawanda St., 



The delightful simplicity of your woodwork 

 and furniture made white with Vitralite, The 

 Long-Life IVhite Enamel, will gratify your sense 

 of true "homey-ness" at small cost. Vitralite 

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Vitralite Booklet and Sample Panel 

 showing its porcelain-like gloss, sent free. 

 Vitralite is easy to apply and does not show 

 brush marks nor turn yellow, whether used 

 inside or outside, on wood, metal or plaster. 

 Absolutely waterproof. 



by architects, sold by paint and hardware dealers everywhere. 

 Buffalo, N.Y. In Canada, 63 Courlwrighl St., Bridgeburg, Ont. 



LONG-UFE 



WHITE ENAMEL 



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Brighten up the deep, shady nooks on your lawn, or that dark 



porch corner— just the places for our hardy wild ferns and wild flower 



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EDWARD GDLLETT, Box D, Southwlck, Mass. 



