Practical gardeners make pools of various materials including concrete, sheet lead, 
canvas, roofing felt and even heavy tough grades of paper. The last two are made by 
cementing numerous layers of the material together with roofing cement. Canvas makes 
a good temporary pool if thoroughly painted inside and out. Sheet lead is permanent but 
rather costly for large pools. Concrete is probably the most common material and withal 
one of the most satisfactory. The permanence of a concrete pool depends upon its thick¬ 
ness and proper reinforcing. Where the ground freezes, five to seven inches in thickness is 
not too much. This may be reinforced with wire fencing, “triangular mesh” made for the 
purpose or with iron bars. See that the reinforcing is in about the middle of the slab of 
cement when making. 
Above — An especially 
well constructed and planted 
pool. Note the grotto with 
its tiny trickle of water sim¬ 
ulating Nature so perfectly. 
The cross-section sketch below, largely self-explanatory, will show you how to plan. 
This is of an informal pool with concealed rim, undoubtedly the best type. For a pool 20 
to 24 inches deep inside, dig the hole 8 inches or a foot deeper, tamp in well a layer of 
cinders to insure drainage, fit your reinforcing, wiring it well at the laps; beginning at the 
bottom, spread your concrete, about a three-inch layer, over the entire pool. Next put the 
reinforcing in place and then another 3 inches of concrete. 
(Continued below). 
four to five 
inches of 
concrete 
flock and 
grave/ soil, 
ar/most 
submerged 
Below—This pool is only 
fair because the boulders 
around the rim seem to be 
simply perched there. Also 
they too completely encircle 
the pool for naturalness. 
Reinforce with 
'fencing or ftiangu/ar^^F^^^^^^g] 
'Otjg-Six in ekes 
of cinders tamped 
very so ltd 
i held by rocks 
cemented to concrete poo/ 
Water lily in box 
of rich soil 
Tamp it all together 
well. When set, paint the 
entire pool with a thin 
mixture of pure cement 
and water to make it 
waterproof. Let stand ten 
days, keeping surface 
moist and shaded from 
heat of the sun. 
/f few of the many ways to finish edge of poo! 
a»j 
6od 
or soil to 
waters edge 
Marginal 
One of the 
best—ffo forms- 
cement seen 
soil pockets 
informal poo! 
=% T [ formal- Finish 
with cement. 
cut stone or brick 
Page 10 
