102 



HORTICULTURE 



July 24, 1909 



Water Scenery in the Garden 



(SfiT Frontispiece) 

 AQUATIC PLANTS 



First and foremost among plants suitable for cultiva- 

 tion in the water must be placed the hardy nymphasas 

 whose flowers have beautiful shades of yellow, rose, car- 

 mine, and blue, like those of some of the tropical spe- 

 cies. It is to M. Latour-Marhac, of Temple-sur-Lot, in 

 France, that the merit is due of imparting these tints 

 and graceful shapes to the hardy and more vigorous 

 species of the temperate parts of the globe. With these 

 new additions aquatic gardening bids fair to become a 

 great feature in gardens furnished with suitable areas of 

 water of the necessary depth, namely 1 1-2 to 3 feet. 

 The planting may be performed in the months of May 

 and June. The soil should be strong loam of good qual- 

 ity, slightly enriched with decayed ox dung, and placed 

 in slight hillocks or in wire or willow hampers, and cov- 

 ered with a thin layer of small stones, in order to avoid 

 its washing away, if there should be a current in the 

 lake. I would recommend the following species and 

 varieties: Nymphaas Marliacea albida, a fragrant, 

 pearly white flower ; M. carnea, of a pale flesh tint, with 

 yellow stamens like the preceding; M. chromatella, 

 straw color with orange stamens, fragrant, and a. con- 

 tinuous flowerer during summer and autumn. Then, 

 there are N. Marliacea fiammea with reddish purple 

 flowers, N. M. ignea, deep crimson, N. M. rubro-punc- 

 tata, reddish mauve, the petals tipped with car- 

 mine. Another section consists of the Laydekeri 

 varieties, viz., N. L. fulgcns, deep crimson flushed 

 with orange; N. L. lilacina, pale rose color; N. 

 L. prolifera, pure rose; N. L. purpurata, bright 

 rose-carmine with stamens of orange red; and 

 N. L. rosea, pink tint, changing to rose pink as it ages. 

 Of the British species X. alba there are two forms dif- 

 fering from the type, viz., plenissima, whose flowers are 

 fuller, and pure white; and rosea, a rather rare, rose 

 pink variety. N. odorata is the delieiously scented pure 

 white Xortii American water lily. There are several va- 

 rieties of this fine lily, of which mention may be made of 

 Exquisita, with rosy carmine flowers; Gigantea, whose 

 flowers are white and many petalled ; Luciana, with deep 

 rose pink flowers; rubra, cup-shaped blooms of pink; 

 Paul Hariot, Seignouretii, Eichardsonii, a strong grow- 

 ing form of N. tuberosa, having wliite blooms thrown 

 high above the surface of the water; and N. Falconeri 

 with blooms of bright red, having a tinge of lake, and 

 reddish leaves when young, but changing with age to 

 green, the veins only remaining reddish. 



To afford variety of form and color the following 

 species may be planted in lakes of any extent, provided 

 the water is of moderate depth ; it being borne in mind 

 that depths exceeding 5 feet in the summer season are 

 unfavorable to growth. Acorus calamus, Aponogeton dis- 

 tacliyon, Butomus unbellatus, Caltha palustris and its 

 double flowered variety, Cyperus alternifolius. Iris 

 Pseudo-acorus, Menj^anthes trifoliata, Polygonum am-, 

 phibium,. Sagittaria Japonica fl. pi., Stratiotes aloides, 

 Vallisneria spiralis, etc. For these and indeed all aqua- 

 tic plants, suitable sites near the banks should be chosen, 

 and soil laid, and weighted down with a few flat stones. 



and tJie richer the soil in reason the better the future 

 growth will be. It may here be stated that some water 

 lilies — especially ■ native species — but more rarely hy- 

 brids, grow in course of time, with such luxuriance as to 

 crowd out all other plants. This evil is much to be 

 feared when species of reeds are planted in any quan- 

 tity. 



The smaller growing water lilies have a good effect 

 when planted in sucli small basins as are found in the 

 garden near to the house, which seldom exceed 30 feet in 

 diameter, and in such receptacles there is no necessity to 

 •endeavor to heighten the effect by planting many of 

 them. More agreeable are the impressions afforded by the 

 formation of receptacles for plants in the outer wall of 

 the basin and extending these outwards two or three 

 feet. This kind of addition is easy of accomplishment 

 at the time the basin is built, as well as subsequently. 

 In these receptacles may be planted Cannas, small grow- 

 ing Arundinaria (Bamboos), Bambusa palmata, Carex 

 Japonica, Eulalia Japonica and its varieties; Funkia 

 grandiflora, Gynerium argenteum. Iris Kaempferi, I. 

 ochroleuca, Osmunda regalis, Spirsea aruncus, etc. The 

 same species may likewise find a place on the shores or 

 banks of large pieces of water; either singly or better 

 still as clumps not too closely planted together. When 

 placed around a basin, a few flowers should be added to 

 afford coloring and contrasts, and to faU over the edges 

 of the masonry. In such positions as this the following 

 species may be put to effective uses, in the warmer 

 months. Fuchsias, Gladioli of species. Iris of many 

 kinds, Montbretias, Ixias, Tigridias, Lilies, tuberous 

 rooted Begonias, Incarvillea Delavayi, Myosotis, Lobelia 

 erinus in variety, L. cardinalis. Clematis aethusifolia, 

 flowering in September and October ; C. coccinea 

 Countess of Onslow, Duchess of Albany, Duchess of 

 York, Grace Darling and Sir Trevor Lawrence — five of 

 the progeny of the American species C. coccinea crossed 

 with the Star of India an old hybrid. The plants are 

 hardy and free flowering. Any of the annual summer 

 climbing plants as Lophospermum, Maurandya, etc., 

 may be planted at the margins. 



British Horticulture 



THE "white city" GARDENS 



The wet, unsettled weather which has characterized 

 the early part of the summer has not been very favorable 

 to the Imperial International Exhibition which is being 

 held at the "Great White City" at Shepherd's Bush. In 

 spite of the climatic shortcomings the gardens, which 

 form a large portion of the city's 150 acres, have pre- 

 sented a very briglit and attractive aspect. By the art 

 of the landscape gardener what was at one time an un- 

 sightly piece of waste ground lias been completely trans- 

 formed. The effectiveness of the design has been en- 

 hanced by the formation of a number of lagoons, with 

 grassy banks and islands. A specially made mower, 

 with an unusually long handle is employed to keep the 

 grass in order. The lawns, most of which have been 

 produced from grass seed, have materially improved as 

 the result of another year's growth, and their splendid 

 appearance has been tlie subject of general admiration. 

 This year the Exhibition authorities have laid out a sub- 



