House & Garden 
desired depth. For this a 
stand-pipe made of several 
sections will be convenient. 
By uncoupling and removing 
one or two sections the depth 
of water remaining in the pool 
can be regulated. The soil 
taken out of the excavation 
may he used for grading 
around the pond if this can 
be done to advantage ; other¬ 
wise, it is best removed alto¬ 
gether. There should be a 
slight depression in the sur¬ 
face of the ground, a sloping 
toward the pond. The wall 
is always better if terminated 
below the ground level so as 
to allow a sod of grass or 
clump of plants to grow over 
and completely hide the masonry. The best 
materials for construction are common hard 
bricks well laid in cement. The wall should 
be perpendicular. Eight inches will suffice 
for its thickness unless the space to be 
enclosed is very large. The joints of the 
brickwork should be well filled in as the 
work progresses, and the wall should taper 
at the top as shown in the diagram and 
finished off with a facing of best Portland 
cement. The bottom may be laid with 
broken or even whole bricks grouted with 
cement and finished with a good coat of 
Mr. Gerard's Garde) 
MR. J. N. GERARD S WATER GARDEN 
Elizabeth, New Jersey 
A POOL WITH NATIVE GRASSES 
Rosa se tiger a in the background 
that material the same as the walls. Unless 
there is a great difference in the cost of the 
various brands of cement, it is best to use 
the Portland cement only. 
As to the size and shape of the pond, it is 
onlv necessary to allow ample space for each 
plant. A well grown plant of the tender 
varieties will need one hundred square feet 
of water surface, the hardier varieties can be 
set closer together ; and, instead of starting 
single plants, it is better to place them in 
clumps of three or more according to the 
size of the pond. Three or four plants of 
the hardy varieties may occupy 
the same space as required by 
one plant of the tender species. 
As to the amount of space 
that should be allotted a Vic¬ 
toria plant, it depends entirely 
if the pond or Victoria pit is 
to be heated, and the variety 
reared. Where the plant has 
the benefit of artificial heat, 
the Victoria Regia may be 
allotted a space from two 
hundred and fifty to five hun¬ 
dred square feet, and the Vic¬ 
toria Trickeri, five hundred to 
one thousand. The shape of 
the pond will vary in all cases, 
and will be regulated very 
much by the situation; an 
irregular outline being most 
