ess should have at least four ponds. The depth of the ponds need
not be very great, three feet is ample, and they could be less if you
can have a good loam bottom that will hold water. But three feet is
very satisfactory, and this graduating off to two feet, and one foot
deep at the bank is plenty. A good shape and cheap way to build the
ponds is like the cut shown. If the ground you have won't allow of this
arrangement why make to best arrangement your ground will permit for
convenience, carrying out the plan advisable for Raising Frogs. You
must have a breeding pond, a hatching pond, a raising and a stock pond,
four ponds in all. The stock pond should be the largest, permitting of
plenty of room for growing and opportunity to get food. The size of
your ponds depends largely on the amount of land available, its
topography and the water supply. Ponds not less than one-half acre in
area, with the inlet at one end and the outlet at the other, in a line
of its longest axis, generally produce the best results, though smaller
ponds can be successfully used.

At least one-fourth of each of the ponds should not be over one foot in
depth, and this portion should be planted with pond weed
(_Potamogeton_) and water weed (_Elodea_, or _Anacharis_) to facilitate
the production and growth of the minute animals which furnish so large
a part of the food for the Frogs at all stages of growth. The rest of
the pond should have a gradually sloping bottom, and consequent
increase depth to the outlet (or drawoff), where the water should be at
least five feet deep, so that in drawing off the ponds the stock can be
assembled in a small area for sorting, etc. The bottom of the ponds,
preferable, soft muck, in which the Frogs can bury themselves in cold
weather and avoid against danger of freezing. In the middle of all the
ponds, except the spawn hatching pond, water lilies should be planted,
the large pods, such as (_Nymphea alba_). These plants furnish hiding
places from fish hawks, also serve as a sun shade and stool for sunning
during summer. It is not advisable to place large bowlders in the pond,
as they are in the way of seining or netting, and furnish an acceptable
resort for crawfish, which are enemies when large. Nursery ponds should
be constructed to afford young protection from enemies and to produce
the greatest quantity of insect life suited for their sustenance, and
this is better accomplished with a number of small ponds than wit