326 



THE GARDENERS MONTHLY 



[November, 



minor form is very interesting on account of its 

 «mall size, the blossoms being but one and one- 

 half inches to two inches across, with the leaves 

 small in proportion. The variety Candida is a 

 form intermediate in size between the two pre- 

 ceding. The rose-colored variety (N. alba var. 

 rosea) is a plant which has excited much inter- 

 est ever since it first expanded its lovely blos- 

 soms, a short time ago in the open air at Kew, 

 being the first time of flowering in this country. 

 It is said to have originated in a solitary lake in 

 Sweden, from whence it was taken to one of the 

 Swedish i)otanic gardens, which is doubtless the 

 source of the Kew plants. It is destined to be- 

 come as common as the white one, and, in com- 

 pany with it and other aquatics, it will produce 

 a charming effect. The North American species, 

 N. odorata, is a very near ally to N. alba, i)ut tlie 

 most perceptible distinction between them is the 

 larger blossoms, which measure from six inches 

 to nine inches across, and which are very sweet- 

 scented. The veins on the under sides of the 

 leaves are also much more raised above the sur- 

 face. The flowers of this kind, too, have a de- 

 cided tendency to assume a red color, and the 

 full developn)ent of this is admirably shown in 

 the rose-colored variety (N. odorata var. rosea, 

 or N. odorata var. minor of some), as the flow- 

 ers are much smaller than those of the type; It 

 is a source of much pleasure to hear that living 

 plants of this beautiful variety have recently j 

 been imported into this country from the North l 

 American lakes. The variety maxima differs 1 

 from the type only in having larger flowers. The | 

 variety renifurmis has the lobes of the leaf much j 

 rounded, so as to assume a kidney shape, but 

 there is no difference in the flower. The type [ 

 of the sweei-scented Water Lily was introduced 

 into this country in 178B, but it is not so com- 

 mon now as it deserves to be. It requires pre- 

 cisely the same treatment as N. alba, and will be 

 found to be quite as hardy in the Southern coun- 

 ties. The tuberous-rooted Nymphsea (N. tube- 

 •rosa) is also a native of North America, and j 

 much resembles our native kind, but differs from | 

 it principally in having tubers developed on the 

 roots which spontaneously detach themselves ' 



from the plant, and so aflTord a ready means of 

 propagation. The shining-leaved Water Lily 

 (N. nilida) is also a near relative of N. alba, but 

 has very shining leaves, and blossoms not so 

 large and scentless. It inhabits the lakes and 

 still w-aters of Siberia, and also the River Lena. 

 This kind, and also the preceding, can be ob- 

 tained from nurseries in which hardy plants are 

 made a specialty. The pigmy Water Lily (N. 

 pygma^a) is a native of China and some parts of 

 Siberia. It is the smallest of all, having leaves 

 not more than two inches across, and very small 

 flowers. It is very rare in cultivation, but I 

 noticed it at Kew in company with otlier kinds. 

 Tne most interesting of all the Nymphaeas is, 

 perhaps, the yellow-flowered kind, N. flava, on 

 account of its color, as in no other sort, either 

 tropical or temperate, is it found. I have not 

 seen ihe flowers, but I am pleased to bear that 

 living plants have just been imported into this 

 country from North America. The common 

 yellow Water Lily belongs to the senus Nnphar, 

 of which we have one species, N. lutea, which 

 inhabits many of our lakes and slow-running 

 rivers in abundance, and, therefore, is too well 

 known to need description. It has a very inter- 

 esting miniature variety called pumila, or min- 

 ima, which is found wild in some of the High- 

 land lakes of Scotland. It i.s considerably 

 smaller in all its parts than the type, and also 

 possesses the same vinous perfume. The stranger 

 or three colored Nuphar (N ad vena) is the North 

 American representative of our yellow Water 

 Lily; it nearly approaches it in general aspect, 

 but it may be at once distinguished by its larger 

 size and the leaves standing erect out of the 

 water if it be shallow. The blossoms are larger 

 and the same in color outside, but the cone of 

 stamens in the centre is of a brighter red. It 

 was introduced in 1772. and is rather common 

 in cultivation now. N. Kalmiana, also a North 

 American kind, much resembles the small va- 

 riety of N. lutea, and is a very interesting plant 

 to grow in company with it. There is another 

 kind, the arrow-leaved Nuphar (N. sagittsefolia), 

 but I doubt if the true plant is at present in 

 cultiTation in this country." 



Greenhouse and House Gardening. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



Much of the failure in growing plants in win- 

 dows comes from choosing plants of too tender 

 a character. Plants which are usually grown in 

 the moist atmosphere of very warm houses are 

 unfit for window culture. Those which are very 

 nearly hardy, but which bloom naturally in win- 

 ter time, are much more suited to window gar- 



dening. It is with greenhouses as with rooms. 

 There are numerous plants which do very well 

 in a temperature ranging between 45° and 60° 

 during sunshine, which are much better than 

 many of the plants usually selected. We might 

 aive a list of such, but it is now almost impossi- 

 ble to get full orders for desirable plants any- 

 where, and one has rather to use what he can 

 get, than to select what he desires. The only 



