BELDT'S AQUARIUM, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 
35 
THE FORMAL POOL 
Formal pools may be constructed in all various shapes. The formal 
pool as a rule is built into the center of the garden or near the center. 
In constructing the form work for a formal pool, it is a good practice 
to set this form work about six inches from the bottom on small pegs of 
wood so that the bottom and sides can all be poured at one time. After 
these forms are removed, pull these small pegs of wood out of the bot¬ 
tom and fill them in with concrete finish when the pool is finished. This 
in no way will weaken the general structure of the pool. Reinforce¬ 
ment may be used, though the writer has never used much reinforcement 
in any pool. At our plant near Florissant, St. Louis County, Missouri, 
we have around 100 concrete tanks varying in size from 6x10 feet to 
20x30 feet and the only reinforcement we used in their construction 
is that we lay one large iron rod about V 2 inch thick into the center 
of the wall of the pond about 4 inches below the surface of the ground. 
The contention is that while water freezes, it exerts its most pressure 
on the concrete right near the ground level, or as far as the pool is 
filled with water. It does not exert any pressure below the ice. 
DETAIL/ OPCON/TRyCTlON 
THE EMPTY POOL BREAKS QUICKER THAN A FILLED POOL 
Do not empty a pool in the winter time except if you are located 
in the northern part of this country where the water will freeze to a 
depth of two to three feet each year. In those localities where the 
water freezes to a depth of from several inches to one foot during the 
winter time, a filled pool is really a protection against breakage. The 
frost never reaches to the bottom of a filled pond. VC^hat causes most 
pools to crack is the same thing that causes sidewalks to crack. If a pool 
is empty, all the surrounding soil freezes and the pool is actually raised 
above its summer level as the frozen ground expands. As a rule, in the 
spring of the year when the ground thaws, the pool settles. The pool, 
however, does not settle uniformly. The sun may shine only against 
one side of the pond or against one end, thus causing this end to settle 
quicker than the other end. The soil on the other end is still frozen 
and solid and the first thing you know your pool is cracked right 
through the center. 
Our water lilies in the natural pool at the Garden City Press, 
Gardenvale, Quebec, Canada. 
In constructing your own pool you may dispense with the mixing 
of concrete. There are many material supply concerns which suppl> 
ready mixed concrete of any desired consistency and it is almost as 
cheap as buying the material and mixing it yourself. Therefore, the 
making of a pool really amounts to not much more than digging the 
hole if you make an informal pool. Buy the concrete already mixed 
if you wish and merely apply it about 6 inches thick and your pool is 
finished. 
FISH CAN NOT BE PUT IN A NEW POOL 
A newly constructed pool must be seasoned. That is, when the 
pool is filled with water for the first time the water absorbes the lime 
contents in the concrete. This is fatal to the fish as their fins get ragged 
and rotten. It usually ends in Fungus which is a white cotton like 
growth on their fins, tails, and body. 
HOW TO PREVENT FUNGUS IN A NEW POOL 
There are two ways to prevent Fungus in a new pool. The old 
method is changing the water after letting it stand for about a week. 
Three changes of water usually removes all this lime sufficiently to 
prevent any further trouble. The other method is the use of water¬ 
proof enamels. These waterproof enamels are listed elsewhere in this 
catalog and may be obtained in various colors. These asphalt enamels 
should be applied to dry concrete only as this asphalt will not adhere 
to damp walls. Therefore, great care must be taken to see that the 
concrete is absolutely dry. This asphalt enamel can be supplied in the 
Black color at $1.25 per gallon or in 5 gallon cans at $5.00. One 
gallon of this enamel will cover from 150 to 250 square feet of surface, 
all depending on how thick you desire to apply it and how smooth the 
concrete work is. The thicker you put it on, the more effective is the 
protection it affords. Asphaltum enamel also stops many leaks as it 
seeps into the porous concrete. Another quality to be considered is that 
the asphalt enamel coating prevents algea and other slimy mosses from 
-taking root in the concrete. The water stays clearer and does not get 
HOW TO KEEP THE POOL CLEAR 
While plenty of sunlight is absolutely necessary for the proper 
growth of water lilies, the bad feature of this excessive sunlight is that 
it turns water green. 
Many inquiries are re¬ 
ceived from people 
each summer as: 
"What can I do to 
keep the water clear?” 
While c h e m i c a 1 s 
may be resorted to, 
it is best to refrain 
from using them. It 
is excessive sunlight 
that creates the bacteria 
formations that causes 
water to turn green 
and it is subdued light 
that will reverse the 
course and clear the 
water on its own ac¬ 
cord. In other words, 
if you were to take a 
bottle or glass jar full 
of this green water 
from the pond and 
place it in your base¬ 
ment, in about a week 
this water would be 
clear. Therefore, it is 
not possible to have a 
clear pool unless you 
plant enough water 
lilies to cover at least 
60 or 70 per cent of 
the water surface with 
the leaves. If you cre¬ 
ate enough natural 
shade for the body of 
water, you will have a 
nice clear pool. 
CULTURAL DIRECTIONS FOR THE WATER GARDEN 
Water lilies, unlike the usual garden flowers, require no cultivation 
and very little attention. Once planted they take care of themselves. 
A well constructed pool needs no further attention except the feeding 
of fish and removing old lily pads that become yellow. Hardy Water 
Lilies and Aquatics, also Nelumbiums may be left in the pool all winter 
as long as there is one foot of water above the lily boxes. There is very 
little danger of them freezing. About every two or three years, the 
boxes should be taken from the pond and new soil placed into the 
boxes in order to keep the plants vigorous and healthy. Water Lilies 
are gross feeders and must be supplied with plenty of good rich soil and 
the right fertilizers. You may use old rotted cow manure which is at 
least two years old, in these boxes. One must understand that any kind 
of fertilizer cannot be used. If you take fresh cow or horse manure 
and mix this with the soil in the lily boxes, the water will immediately 
dissolve and absorb this manure. It would do as much good to take 
a shovel full and throw it right into the pond. 
Pool of Mrs. Guy Gloves, 208 Mitchell Street, 
Longview, Texas. 
