WINTER CARE OF POOL in the colder areas 
consists of draining artificial pools and covering 
the plants with sufficient leaves and litter to pre¬ 
vent actual freezing. Pools deep enough not to 
freeze solidly should be left alone. Tubs may be 
treated the same way to remove the root cellar for 
the winter. In the milder districts, Pools should 
be left undisturbed. 
POOL CONSTRUCTION— The depth should 
be from 18 inches to 3 feet. The best depth for all 
purposes is 30 inches. Water lily pools may be 
built in several different ways. The easiest one to 
make is the shallow sided basin. All that is re¬ 
quired is to excavate the center to a depth of about 
three feet and then slope the sides gradually to the 
top. This basin may then be lined without building 
the usual forms. The concrete used should be one 
part cement, three parts sand and five of gravel, 
mixed together dry enough to stand in place when 
tamped. After foundation is set it should be 
broomed over with a mixture of one part cement 
and one part sand, with enough water to make it 
work easily. This will fill up all holes and cracks, 
making the pool water tight. 
A straight sided pool may be made any shape 
desired by simply digging a narrow trench to the 
required depth and filling it with concrete. After 
it sets, the inside is dug out and the bottom of con¬ 
crete is poured in. Care should be taken that the 
inside of the trench be smooth and that it be dug 
to a level depth. The top of the wall can be covered 
with soil, and the plants allowed to grow to the 
water’s edge or it may be brought up and finished 
with rocks in any manner that may please the 
imagination. 
A hose may be used for filling and siphoning when 
necessary. A new pool should be filled and emptied 
several times to remove any alkali that might injure 
plants or fish. 
Tub Culture — It is entirely practical and satis¬ 
factory to grow water lilies and aquatics in tubs, 
half barrels or any containers two feet or more 
across, that hold water. Many city dwellers find 
this method very convenient. 
