to BUILD THEM 



of these tubs can be artistically grouped into a most attractive and interesting 

 water garden. Each tub will accommodate about five plants. You can beautify 

 the outer edge around the tubs with tastefully arranged flagstones or low flowers. 



A beautiful pool can be constructed of field or flagstone or boulders held together 

 with a mortar made of four parts good clean sand and one part Portland cement. 

 (See Fig. 2.) Such a pool can be made in a variety of shapes and will be 

 artistic and beautiful. Follow the instructions given for concrete pools. 



Many will prefer to construct their concrete pools themselves, and it is not at 

 all difficult. No special knowledge of handling cement is required because 

 it will not be necessary to finish the pool smooth and true like a concrete floor. 



Excavate to a depth of two feet six inches, and tamp the soil until firm and 

 level. This is the time to install any drain, overflow and supply pipes you may 

 wish to use, by setting them in place and later casting the concrete around 

 them. Fill in the bottom with a concrete mixture, using one part water-proof 

 Portland Cement, two parts sharp clean sand, and three parts two-inch stone. 



Next, place a form 

 made of one-inch lum- 

 ber so that the wall of 

 the pool will be six 

 inches thick at the bot- 

 tom and four inches 

 thick at the top, using 

 the inside of the excava- 

 tion as the outside of 

 the wall. (See Fig. 2.) 

 Hetween the wooden form and the side of the excavation pour a rather wet 

 mixture of concrete and tamp down well. If the pool is larger than six 

 feet in any dimension the walls and bottom should be reinforced by installing 

 a heavy wire mesh or half-inch steel reinforcing rods before pouring the con- 

 crete ; this is an aid in preventing cracks. Keep the hardening concrete 

 thoroughly wet down for several days, and it is best not to plant for about 

 ten days. 



The inside wall should be sloping as shown in Fig. 2 to prevent cracking the 

 pool should the water freeze in winter. 



Fig. 2 — This diagram shows the proper shape and thick- 

 ness of sides and bottom for stone and concrete pools. 



THE W. B. SHAW AQUATIC GARDENS 



KENILWORTH, WASHINGTON, D. C. 



