HOUSE AND GARDEN 
August, 1913 
lawn and driveways make the wild or simulated natural appear 
out of place. But where the regular beds and borders are not seen 
in juxtaposition, a natural pond is highly desirable. It is most 
successful if there be a winding stream on the property. The 
simple mechanical expedient of making a dam accomplishes the 
purpose. An irregular area may be excavated and the water, if 
the source is constant, will produce a very excellent pool. Of 
course, such ideal conditions are not often found, but there are 
artificial means to gain results. One should be cautious of under¬ 
taking too much; a good-sized pool is expensive. If clay may be 
had in the neighborhood, the bed of a pond may be made by 
‘‘puddling.” The clay must be broken up and mixed with water 
Concrete makes a more lasting pool, but is, of course, expen¬ 
sive. It is difficult to make it look natural. The margin must be 
slightly lower than the earth banks and well covered with sod. 
While the concrete is hardening, stones and sand scattered over 
and pressed into its surface will help to create a natural appear¬ 
ance. Such ponds as these must be of irregular contour with 
tiny bays and promontories. A successful form is an irregular 
pear shape with the inlet at the small extremity. If at the oppo¬ 
site end water is allowed to run off into the soil a situation for 
bog plants will be formed which will soften the edges of the pool 
and add to its natural effect. 
I have in mind a place that successfully combined several of 
r 
1 *! 
One mistake in making garden pools is to attempt the natural in a situation that demands formal treatment. Here is an ideal natural pool made 
by damming a small stream. Water lilies grow along the edges and reed-like plants are placed nearby, as well as plantings of ordinary white 
tiowers that like the moist situation 
until it is in a mushy plastic condition. It is then shoveled into 
the pond site which has been previously excavated and tamped 
down as hard as possible. The clay should also be tamped down 
and be about one foot in depth to remain for any length of time. 
In some cases when the site selected is in porous ground, a “pud¬ 
dle gutter” may be run around the extent of the pool about a foot 
from its margin. This method is equivalent to making a clay 
dam. A trench eighteen inches wide is dug to about a foot below 
the proposed depth of the pond. This is filled with the clay and 
packed tight, then the trench is covered with sod. If the earth 
on the pond floor is beaten down hard, the clay walls will prevent 
the water from seeping away, provided a fair supply is maintained. 
these features. The land fell away suddenly from the back of 
the garden, making a rather steep slope to a meadow about ten 
feet below. This slope was sparsely wooded and the trees formed 
a pleasing fringe along the edge of the garden. Along the foot 
of the slope there ran a little stream. As this was of almost con¬ 
stant volume all summer long, the owner conceived the idea of 
damming up at one end to form a pond. There was a natural 
hollow which made this practicable and it was accomplished by 
a three-foot dam. When this feature was completed someone 
spoke to the owner of the workings of the hydraulic ram and he 
proceeded to install one farther down the meadow slope and 
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