VAN NESS WATER GARDENS, Upland, California 
Part of a grout' of five Tub Gardens, combined zvith Rock Garden, planted zvith 
Tropical Lilies and Sucezilents. 
Its Easy to Build Your Own Pool 
LOCATION. The pool should be exposed to full sun, 
and should not be built too close to such trees as Pepper, 
Walnut or Fig, as the leaves, having a strong acid content, 
falling into the pool will injure the fish. 
Lilies cannot be expected to bloom unless the sun shines 
into the heart of them at least part of the day. 
After deciding on location of pool, a very easy way to 
plan size and shape is to use the garden hose, tracing on 
the ground the exact plan you desire. We suggest that you 
make your pool as large as your space will permit, as there 
are so many water plants you wdll want room for. 
For the front yard the formal pool will best fill the re¬ 
quirements of good design, but for the back yard the in¬ 
formal pool works out beautifully with a rock garden. 
An informal poof is much easier and less expensive to 
build than a formal one, as it can be built without forms. 
For an informal pool, after deciding on size and shape, dig 
out soil to depth of 2 feet and level off. Shave side walls as 
near perpendicular as possible, as walls which slope are that 
much wasted space in your pool, and gather Algae making 
pool unsightly. Tamp walls and floor and reinforce with 
heavy fencing wire, covering walls and floor. 
The concrete should be poured continuously, so there will 
be no joints, and as it is poured the reinforcing should be 
pulled up to center of concrete, thus making pool stronger 
and less apt to crack. 
In building a formal pool, by excavating carefully to the 
e.xact shape and size of the pool and carefully trimming the 
edges there will be no necessity for an outside form. Allow 
about 6 inches space for wall and build inside form. The 
walls should be reinforced, and after it is poured, allow it to 
harden until the next day. Remove forms and pour bottom 
of the pool. Finish as directed below. 
Cement. The proper mixture of cement is one shovel of 
cement to five of sand. Dry mix well, then add enough 
water to make a rather stiff mixture. In cold climates, where 
heavy freezing may be expected, the concrete should be 6 
inches thick; in mild climates 3 inches is ample. 
As concrete is poured, it should be well tamped to take 
out the porous places and insure yourself of a water tight 
pool. Allow cement to become thoroughly set, then apply 
a thin coat of 1 part cement and 3 parts sand which has been 
screened. When this is hardened apply a coat of pure 
WATERPROOF cement. 
Be sure to keep moist as cement hardens, spraying with 
a very fine spray from hose, at intervals, as the slower 
cement hardens the stronger it becomes. 
After it is thoroughly set it may be filled with water, 
filling very slowly. Allow water to stand in pool for a 
week to soak out the alkali; drain off and when dry, sweep 
thoroughly and the pool is ready for planting. 
Culture of Water Lilies 
Water lilies are among the easiest flowers to grow. About 
the only attention they need after planting is to which the 
water level and break off dead leaves. No constant water¬ 
ing to think of, or worry about when planning a vacation. 
Just leave a drip in your pool and go away for a month, 
knowing that when you return you will find everything in 
perfect condition. 
SOIL AND FERTILIZER. Any good garden soil will 
do for Water lilies. The best fertilizer is WELL ROTTED 
DAIRY. Be sure it is well rotted or it will ferment and 
rot the lily pads and muddy the pool. 
Should you be unable to obtain well rotted manure, we 
can furnish a very satisfactory fertilizer, very concentrated 
so that ^ pound is sufficient for one lily box, or in spread¬ 
ing over entire pool p 2 pound is sufficient for each wheel¬ 
barrow of soil. When using dairy fertilizer, place on bottom 
of pool or box to depth of 4 inches, then cover with 6 or 
8 inches of soil according to depth of pool. Cover with 1 
inch of clean sand. 
In larga, pool, if desiring to plant in boxes, the boxes 
should be 2 X 2 feet square and 1 foot deep if possible. Do 
not use red-wood as the acid is not good for the fish. Use 
pine which will last for years in water. 
T<ivo 
