Depth of a Fish Pond
The greatest depth of the pond, then, will be in the centre and will depend on the kind of lily required and on the surface area. If the lily is one that will cover an area ten feet in diameter it should be planted in three feet of water or more, if seven feet is to be covered plant in two feet, and for four feet plant in one foot of water. It must be remembered that, although oxygenating plants are growing, it is from the surface of the pond that most of the oxygen is obtained, therefore the depth should not be out of keeping with the surface area
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We will assume that we are making a purely formal pond twelve feet long and six feet wide, we will imagine, too, just for this once, that money is no object. When we come down to earth we can modify our plans according to our pocket and to the space available. Therefore, we will have two lilies, these will be planted six feet apart thus giving each plant 51., square feet in which to expand.
The choice of lily should be a matter for some deliberation. There are over one hundred and twenty different varieties of cultivated water-lilies and, while I do not despise the humble wild kind, there are so many magnificent types with fragrant blooms unequalled for table decoration to choose from, that it is far more satisfying to buy a ready good one. For our pond we will choose a crimson one, say James Hudson, with its large pointed petals slightly shot with mauve and a white one; Caroliniana shall be our choice because of its large blooms and lovely fragrance. Both of these should be planted in two and a half feet of water, and that will be our greatest depth. At one end of the pond the floor will be raised so that the depth is only a few inches and here may be planted Water Lobelia (plate iv), Water Forget-me-not, Water Arum (plate v), Water Mint—this plant seems to keep the water sweet—Marsh Marigold, etc. Butomus, otherwise the Water Gladioli (plate iv), and other tall marginal plants will thrive in the shallows also, their roots form an admirable shelter for the fish fry—their cannibalistic parents cannot reach them there.
The rest of the pond should be between a foot and eighteen inches in depth, which will suit the oxygenating plants such as Myriophyllum, Hornwort (plate u), Water Crowfoot (plate iii), etc., and one or other of the great Sagittaria family. The spearshaped leaves of these plants stand boldly out of the water, breaking up any flat effect.
A pond of the size under consideration will accommodate fifty medium-sized fishes. These should be of three types, those that swim on or near the surface, mid-water denizens and bottom fishes. Golden Orfes are, par cxcoUonco, the fishes for the surface and for our pond we will need a dozen. They swim in shoals and at a great speed and will leap right out of the water after mosquitoes and other insects.
A couple of dozen minnows will provide interest, they congregate at the edge of the pool in the shallow water and are off like a flash when approache that is, until they realise that at set times they w be fed, when both orfe and minnow become almost ” finger tame.”
Goldfish are for the mid-water; they are to preferred to the other carp species by virtue of the vivid colouring most of the carp kind are d olive and so are not seen so easily. Tench are t ideal bottom fishes, they dispose of worms that ha f committed suicide by falling in and other de; organisms that are likely to foul the water. Country people call them the ” Doctor Fish ” because the presence by some means keeps the other fish healthy. The slime with which their bodies a covered is generally supposed to be the reason, b I think that by acting as scavengers they do mo to maintain healthy conditions than by al particular emanation. Another good scavenger the catfish. a native of Central Europe it is ugly as the tench is beautiful.
The fishes to avoid are Pike, Perch and the Su fish tribe; they are too belligerent for polite society.