ON AQUATIC PLANTS. 



871 



the aid of a syringe or hose-spray ; but the most effectual remedy 

 is a natural one — a good heavy shower of rain, which also imparts 

 to the plants an additional brightness. In some cases it may be 

 desirable to use an insecticide, and should this be resorted to 

 a solution of tobacco-juice will be found to answer the purpose 

 effectually, without causing the least injury to the plants. Water- 

 rats will sometimes become troublesome, if allowed to be un- 

 disturbed in their visits, by destroying the buds and flowers of 

 Water Lilies, but they may generally be captured by means of 

 tempting baits without very much difficulty. Waterfowl might 

 play havoc with small plants if unguarded, but, as previously 

 mentioned, it is most desirable that these should be grown in 

 reserved quarters until sufficiently strong to plant out where they 

 are liable to this contingency. 



Making Ponds. — In selecting a site for an artificial piece of 

 water it should be borne in mind that water naturally seeks its 

 bed in low-lying ground ; therefore, in the construction of a 

 pond, it is very important that this particular should be observed 

 wherever the conditions are favourable for doing so, or an unreal 

 effect will otherwise be produced. The outline should be care- 

 fully considered, and formal or unnatural shapes should be 

 avoided, as these would, to a cultivated taste, present a too 

 artificial appearance. The sides should be represented by 

 projections and irregular curves, avoiding the introduction of 

 straight lines, which are invariably objectionable, and seldom 

 occur in a natural formation. Artificial work as far as possible 

 should be carefully concealed below the intended water-level 

 line, or provision made for concealing it with vegetation when 

 planting operations are in progress. If the soil is of a clayey 

 nature and retentive of water where it is designed to form a 

 pond, this work will be very much simplified ; but should it be 

 of a porous nature, then tempered clay will have to be intro- 

 duced and puddling resorted to to prevent waste of water when 

 the work is completed. When the soil has been excavated as 

 deeply as may be desired — say to a minimum depth of about 

 3^ft. in the middle or deepest part, gradually diminishing to 

 about i^ft. at the margin, the sides sloping outwardly — the 

 surface of the excavation should be made as firm as possible, 

 and regularly finished off, ready for the puddling process, To 

 effect this, clay should be beaten and worked into a thoroughly 

 tenacious nature wherever most convenient to do so, and when 

 it is fit for use the bottom and sides of the pond should be 

 evenly covered throughout with it to a thickness of gin. to i2in. 

 This will require to be well rammed and beaten as the work 

 proceeds, so that it may be thoroughly united, and so prevent 

 the water from percolating through it. This work should be 

 done expeditiously, and as soon as it is completed the water 

 should be gradually admitted. Of course, cement concrete 



