to Plant an d Ca re for Beautiful Water Gardens 
The FOkMAL POOL, with symmetrical outlines and straight sides instead of slop¬ 
ing is diagrammed below. The illustration shows ledges for shallow water plants 
which may be modified for convenience or economy as explained on these pages. 
H 
- V - 1 • • — - 
) COUPLING - UNSCREW 
OVERFLOW PIPE TO 
DRAIN POOL 
DRAINS and overflow drains will be neces¬ 
sary when a fountain or running water is pro¬ 
vided. Otherwise the Pool may well be filled 
as required by a hose, and if well balanced as 
to aquatic life running water and drains are not 
at all necessary. 
BORDERS for Pools, whether formal or in¬ 
formal in design, offer many opportunities for 
ingenuity on the part of the builder, more espe¬ 
cially in the case of the informal Pool arrange¬ 
ments. Plan for Pool construction should cover 
this important feature. In informal Pool ar¬ 
rangements stones or bricks may well be pressed 
into the fresh concrete along the sides, near the 
top, to form pockets or ledges for planting 
shallow water and Bog Plants. Arrange these 
pockets or ledges so that the soil placed in them 
will give water depths of from 2 to 10 inches to 
-ARDY lilies may be planted any time 
after growth begins in the spring; and as late in the fall 
as will let them become established, generally about six 
weeks before real cold weather sets in. Tropical Lilies 
may be planted any time after settled weather is assured; 
usually after May 20th in the latitude of Chicago. Plant¬ 
ings farther south may be made much earlier. We ship at 
the proper planting time for the locality in which the 
planting is to be made. We also ship at any time, on re¬ 
quest. 
Tropical Lilies may be grown and flowered continually 
for many years in a greenhouse, conservatory, or sun room 
pool simply by giving the proper temperatures and addi¬ 
tions of fresh soil occasionally. Tropical Lilies planted out too 
early in cold water; or in water that is too deep for young plants 
(over 12 inches) or in a heavily shaded pool tend to go dormant. 
When this happens the plant is not dead; and by placing root in 
warm sunny water growth will recommence. It is to avoid this 
unnecessary delay in growth that we advise against too early 
planting. For greatest number of blooms throughout the season 
only 8 to 12 inches of water should be allowed over the crowns. 
When plants are received set out in shallow water; then fill up the 
pool as the plants commence to grow. For best results the pool 
should be exposed to full sunlight. 
provide for the various types of Shallow Water 
and Bog Plants. In general it may be said that 
the informal Pool should provide approximately 
for all the various conditions of water depth 
and soil to be found naturally at the shore lines 
of fresh water ponds and lakes. 
We shall be pleased to assist in any mat¬ 
ter pertaining to the growing of Water 
Lilies and other aquatics; selection, ar¬ 
rangement and care of plants in the Pool, 
and in any other matter with regard to 
water gardening in which we can be of 
service. 
HOW TO The root of the Hardy Lilies 
PLANT - should be pressed into the mud 
so that the growing tip is cov¬ 
ered. Should the roots float after planting, 
weight with a stone until the new feeding roots 
have caught hold. If the bottom is very hard 
or stony, plant lily roots in light holders filled 
with heavy loam to which one-fourth cow ma¬ 
nure has been added and sink in the desired 
spot. For most blooms water depth should not 
exceed two feet in summer, but be careful to 
select a spot well covered by water in winter. 
The winter depth is unimportant; the deeper 
the safer. Hardy Water Lilies will bloom in 3 
to S feet of water, but not so profusely. Trop¬ 
ical Lilies may also be planted in natural ponds 
and lakes provided a very shallow spot is se¬ 
lected (8 to 10 inches deep), and the pond or 
lake maintains a fairly high temperature all 
summer (at least 65 degrees). Water Lilies of 
any variety, for best results, should not be 
planted near a cold inlet nor in swiftly moving 
water. In fertilizing natural ponds cow ma¬ 
nure may be layered on the ice to a depth of 
one inch or more. It will become water-logged 
in spring and sink. Bone meal may also be 
used in a like manner. Apply at the rate of 
one pound per square foot. 
Containers for planting in constructed Pools 
may be anything from a large flower pot, a 
plant tub, or a box one foot square and six 
inches deep, to a tub two feet in diameter and 
a foot deep, or a box two feet square and eight 
inches to a foot deep. The larger the container, 
the greater the amount of soil given the plant, 
therefore more and larger blooms will result. 
Allow each Water Lily 8 to 12 square feet of 
water surface. 
The soil, whether placed directly in the pool 
or in containers, should be a good, heavy, gar¬ 
den loam. The addition of one part well rotted 
cow manure to every four parts of soil will 
prove beneficial. A mild commercial fertilizer 
may be used, or a mixture of blood and bone 
meal (one quart dry measure per bushel of 
soil). 
Water Lilies once started into growth are 
heavy feeders. Their roots spread out and feed 
laterally. It is advisable to drain the Pool every 
two to three years and replace all soil with fresh 
material, or at least top dress the soil by cutting 
off two or three inches and replacing with fresh 
soil, or fork in rotted cow manure or a com¬ 
mercial fertilizer, taking care not to injure the 
crowns. 
Where containers are used, remove, empty, 
refill with fresh soil; reset the crown and re¬ 
turn the container to its place. 
An easy way of fertilizing is to place as much 
well rotted cow manure or mild commercial 
fertilizer in a paper bag as can easily be held 
in one hand. Press the bag into the soil near 
the Lily crown. The bag will disintegrate, 
allowing the fertilizer to incorporate itself with 
the soil. This method of fertilizing may be used 
for small quantities of fertilizer during the 
flowering season on any plants showing a tend¬ 
ency to fall off on flower production. This 
method is an excellent way of fertilizing Tub- 
Gardens and other small containers. 
Tamp all soil, whether directly in the Pool 
or in containers, cover with one-inch layer of 
clean sand, and tamp sand. This prevents soil 
being stirred up and discoloring the water. 
HOOSIER AQUATIC GARDENS 
