490 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



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date of writing, the most approved liinds are, 

 Pliinney's Early, Rattlesnalce or Gipsey, Iron- 

 clad Mammoth and " Green and Gold." Many 

 other sorts are, of course, favorites in different 

 sections of the country. 



Water Milfoil. See Myriophyllum. 



Water Nymph. One of the popular names of 

 Nymphcea odorata. 



Water Oak. Querciift aquatica, and sometimes 

 Q. jjulustris. 



Water Parsiiip. The common name of the 

 genus Sium, poisonous aquatic plants. 



Water Penny-wort. A popular name for aquatic 

 plants belonging to the genus Hydrocotyle, 

 which see. 



Water Pepper. A common name of the Poly- 



gonum Hydropipcr, whicii is also called Srnurl- 



iveed. 

 Water Pimpernel or Broolcweed. The common 



name of marshy weeds belonging to the genus 



Samolus. 



Water Plantain. See Alisma Plantago. 



Water Plants. The numerous water plants 

 are now grown to such perfection in many of 

 our parks and private gardens that we deem 

 it advisable to devote a special article to them, 

 though they will be found elsewhere described i 

 in their order. Many have been deterred 

 from attempting their culture by the idea 

 that a special green-house and tank must be 

 built for their accommodation, and though 

 the various species can be had in flower 

 almost all the year round in such a structure, 

 they may be grown with great success out-of- 

 doors and made to form one of the most 

 attractive features of the garden or lawn 

 during the summer months. They may be 

 successfully grown in large tubs or half-bar- 

 rels in the open air, either on the surface or 

 sunk in the ground. 



A very effective and inexpensive plan is to 

 arrange the tubs in connection with a rock- 

 ery, a large tub in the centre being placed 

 somewhat higher than the rest, and connected 

 by pipes or by pieces of rubber hose, so that 

 the overflow from the large tub runs from one 

 to the other, changing the water in all. Oil 

 barrels cut in two make excellent tubs. 



The space around the tubs is filled with 

 good, rich compost, held in place by large 

 stones, in which foliage and flowering plants, 

 such as tuberous-rooted Begonias, Sedums, 

 Caladiums, Palms, etc., are planted. The 

 effect produced in this manner is really beau- 

 tiful. 



They can, however, be grown to much 

 greater perfection if allowed plenty of room in 

 a tank or pond made especially for their 

 reception. This should be in a warm, sunny 

 situation on the lawn or elsewhere, where by 

 judicious planting of the background with 

 Ferns, Musas, Bamboos, Caladiums, Cannas, 

 etc., they may be shown off to much better 

 advantage, and the tropical idea of the scene 

 sustained. 



For the more tender kinds it is necessary.in 

 this latitude, to make the bottom of cement or 

 concrete, as the water is then more readily 

 heated by the sun and retains its heat better. 

 As several of the species are rampant growers it 

 is advisable to have partitions made for them 



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so that they will be confined within proper 

 limits. Means ought also be provided for 

 emptying the tank of water when desired, and 

 also a waste-pipe near the top for overflow, 

 so that fresh water maj' be run in occasion- 

 ally to prevent stagnation. 



They may also be grown in the base of a 

 fountain, but they will not flourish if the 

 spray is allowed to fall on the leaves. 



Most of the species do not require the water 

 to be over two feet in depth, but if the larger 

 species are desired it will be necessary to 

 sink holes a foot or more deep and four feet 

 wide to hold sufficient soil for their reception. 

 The various species (which should have been 

 started in the green-house) may be planted 

 out in the beginning of June wlien they will 

 soon commence to bloom, continuing until 

 the flrst frost. If it is desired to enjoy the 

 longest possible season of bloom in the open 

 air, the pond may be iocatt^l near the green- 

 house and some connection made with the 

 hot-water boiler. Waste steam from a factory 

 or other concern could be utilized for this 

 purpose. 



The best soil for growing all kinds of 

 aquatic plants is a good, rich, fibrous loam, 

 with a liberal admixture of well rotted stable 

 or cow manure. Eich mud from the bed of a 

 pond or sluggish stream is also good, but we 

 consider the first-mentioned the best. The 

 compost should be well mixed, placed in the 

 tank with a good layer of clean sand on the 

 top to purify the water and prevent muddi- 

 ness. 



These conditions, viz., still, warm water 

 and rich compost, favor the growth of a low 

 form of vegetable life, called confervaj, or 

 green scum, which becomes very unsightly 

 and troublesome unless eradicated. As the 

 result of several years' experience, we are 

 quite positive that, if abundance of Gold-fish 

 are kept in the tank or pond, there will be no 

 trouble in this direction. 



Innumerable kinds of aquatic insects breed 

 in the water, and some of their larvee prey 

 upon the leaves of the Lilies, but the common 

 water-snail is the greatest enemy of aquatic 

 plants. The Gold-fish assist very materially 

 in destroying these larvae and snails, but we 

 have found a complete preventive of injury to 

 the foliage from this source by keeping in the 

 tank, in addition to the Gold-fish, some of 

 the common spotted Sun-fish. They are car- 

 nivorous in habit and very alert and active. 

 Moreover, it is impossible for mosquitoes to 

 breed in a Water Lily basin in which abun- 

 dance of the above-named fish, or those of 

 similar habit, are kept. Their beautiful ap- 

 pearance, and the ease with which they may 

 be taught to feed from the hand (though it 

 must not be done too frequently), make them 

 charming adjuncts to the Water Garden. If 

 the tank is two feet or more in depth, they 

 can be left in it all winter with perfect safety 

 in this latitude. Thus one objection to locat- 

 ing these tanks or ponds in the vicinity of the 

 dwelling-house is removed. 



Sometimes, toward autumn, brown aphides, 

 or plant lice, become troublesome on the Lily 

 leaves. We have found a weak solution of 

 kerosene emulsion (see Insecticides) to be a 

 perfectly safe remedy without any injury 

 whatever to the plants. 



