Awakening Interest in Aquatic Gardening 



By Wm. 



Aquatic gardening- is apparently in its infancy, 

 though aquatics are as uld as the hills; but this class 

 of plant now commands our attention. Aquatics are 

 associated with the history of the ancient Egyptians, 

 where mention is first made of the Egyptian lotus, 

 Nelumbium speciosum, the worship ot which was 

 common with them. Sculptural representations of it 

 are found among the ruins of Egyptian temples. It 

 was nnt I inly knuwn tn the ancient Egyptians, but was 

 comnicin in cilden times in East and West India, China, 

 Japan, I'ersia. and Asiatic Russia. The Chinese have 

 ever Held it in sacred regard, but that character was 

 not limited merely to ornamental purposes ; the roots 

 (or tubers) were used and still are as an article of diet. 

 The American lotus, Xeluml)ium leteum, was well 

 known to the Indians as an article of diet, but has of 

 late been disregarded. 



Nymphaeas are also \videl\ diffused and are found in 

 all ])arts of the world, each different country possessing 

 species peculiarly its own. l!ut (jf all the X\ni[)haeas 

 no species can compare with N'ictoria Kegia and al- 

 though many species were known in luigland prior to 

 the introduction of the latter, the cultivation of aquat- 

 ics received a stimulus thereby, which extended to the 

 United States, the effect of which is felt bv us this day. 

 The discovery of this wonderful plant bv Mr. liridges, 

 an English traveler, in 1845. He successfully carried 

 to England the seeds that produced the first plant 

 which became so famous. This was in the year 184'', 

 when a tank was built ex])ressly for the new plant in 

 the great conservat()ry at Chatsw< jrth, under the man- 

 agement of Mr. Paxton. 



It is interesting to note that there were progressive 

 florists in the United States at this date, although 

 neither rapid transit not ocean greyhounds were estab- 

 lished. Yet, the result of such an achievement in flori- 

 culture was not only known here, but a similar tank 

 and greenhouse were constructed, and the \'ictoria 

 Regia was successfully grown by Mr. Caleb Cope, 

 Philadeljihia, Pa., in 1831. Considering the time when 

 the Victoria flowered in England — No\ember, 1849 — 

 there was little time lost; and this act exhibited an 

 enthusiasm and enterprise worth}' of our day. The 

 foregoing is the earliest record of aquatic gardening 

 in this country. With the \"ictoria was also introduc- 

 ed Nelumbium Speciosum. The construction of the 

 Victoria tank and house was sucli as to stimulate 

 natural conditions. The warm water and tropical at- 

 mosphere were not enough ; the water had to be kept 

 in motion. A water wheel was constructed for this 

 purpose and a stream of water constantly flowed which 

 was conducted into a cistern or reservoir in the middle 

 of the vegetable garden which was used for watering 

 in those days before city water hydrants and hose were 

 thought of. In this cistern the Nelumbium Speciosum 

 was planted and was a great success. After this small 

 aquariums and ponds were made out of doors by diff'er- 

 ent people and aquatics were more or less grown. 



It is sad to relate of this enterprising gentleman, as 

 of many others since, that he died very shortly after 

 this event and that the glory and pride of this horticul- 

 tural establishment thereafter departed, and on this 

 historical spot stands the Forrest Home for aged 

 actors. 



Yet another and pleasing feature in connection with 

 this first Victoria in the United States, and which 

 makes this event most interesting. W^e had until re- 



Tricker. 



cently at the head of the Department of Parks in the 

 capital of the Union a man of singular ability, experi- 

 ence and judgment who was an employee in the gar- 

 dens of Air. Caleb Cope when the first Victoria and 

 lotus were grown. 1 refer to Mr. (Jeo. H. Brown, now 

 deceased. 



The state of Massachusetts appears to have been the 

 next in order of date where the cultivation of the 

 Victoria Regia was engaged in. The earliest grower 

 in that state being John Fisk Allen, of Salem, who on 

 June, 1883, exhibited \'ictoria Regia at the rooms of 

 the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. The Vic- 

 toria still led the way and in the year 1856 it was 

 grown in Cincinnati by Mr. Geo. Pentland, gardener 

 to Nicholas Longworth, Esq., but its cultivation did 

 not become general and would not now under such 

 expensive modes of culture. 



Attempts to cultivate Nelumbium speciosum are re- 

 ported i)rior to Mr. Cope's venture. The archives of 

 the Pennsylvania Horticultural .Society contain the 

 following report: "At the meeting held on February, 

 1840, the committee on distribution of seeds submitted 

 their rejiort, from which it appears two parcels of seeds 

 had been received, one from Calcutta, presented in 

 1838 by Dyllwyn Parrish, containing among other 

 things seeds of Nelumbium Speciosum and N. Album, 

 and Mr. R. P>uist succeeded in raising plants of these 

 species wdiich were ccmsidered very rare in this coun- 

 trv if indeed the}' existed, except from these Calcutta 

 seeds." 



From 1856 to 1876 very little was done in the way 

 of aquatic gardening, but at the latter date Philadel- 

 phia was again to the front and a plant of Victoria 

 Regia was a novel and attractive feature of the Cen- 

 tennial Ex])osition. In 1886 aquatics were introduced 

 into Central Park, New York. Nelumbium Speciosum 

 is there naturalized and is one of the most striking fea- 

 tures of the i^ark. In 1888 L. \\'. (ioodell appeared on 

 the scene with a tank of aquatic plants at the annual 

 exhibition of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 

 .A. year later H. H. Hunnewell exhibited a collection. 

 Amateurs now commenced to cultivate the aquatics 

 and choice specmiens were to be seen at Newport and 

 in the neighi)orhood of Boston, Chicago and other 

 cities. Mr. Chadwick, president of Chicago Horticul- 

 tural Society, grew aquatics which undoubtedly led 

 to the introduction of these plants into Lincoln Park in 

 1888, then under the able management of Supt. J. A. 

 Pettigrew. The cultivation of Victoria Regia as well 

 as all available Nymphaeas at that time has given Chi- 

 cago and her parks a world-wide reputation. ( )ther 

 parks and gardens have introduced aquatics with sur- 

 prising results and to-day they are the most jiopular 

 plants. The \'ictoria has been grown in the Botanic 

 (lardens, Washington, D. C, since Dr. Bahnson. 

 after several attempts, succeeded in flowering the Vic- 

 toria in the open at Salem, N. C, grown without arti- 

 ficial heat. 



It must necessarily be late in the season before 

 ])lanting out or run the risk of losing all. In many 

 cases where steam power is used in factory, pump or 

 for other purposes, the waste steam can be used for 

 the heating of the tank, but the safect and best method ■ 

 is to have an independent heating system. The in- 

 troducing of Victorias into our gardens and parks 

 opened up a wide field for the general cultivation of 

 tropical Nymphaeas which has now become general in 



