to BUILD THEM 
of these tubs can be artistically grouped into a most attractive and interesting 
water garden. 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 to¬ 
gether with a mortar made of four parts good clean sand and one part Port¬ 
land 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 exca¬ 
vation as the outside of 
the wall. (See Fig. 2.) 
Between 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 concrete; 
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. 
