ne, THE DICTIONARY 
OF GARDENING, 
Aquatic Plants—continued. 
excavation should be made as firm as possible, and 
regularly finished off, ready for the puddling operation. 
To effect this, clay should be beaten and worked into a 
thoroughly tenacious mass wherever most convenient to 
do so, and when it is fit for use the bottom and sides of 
the pond should be evenly covered throughout with it to 
a thickness of 9in. to 12in. This will require to be well 
rammed and beaten as the work proceeds, so that it may 
be thoroughly united, and so prevent the water from perco- 
lating through it. This work should be done expeditiously, 
and as soon as it is completed the water should be 
gradually admitted. Of course, cement concrete might 
be used for lining the interiors of small ponds, but in the 
case of larger ones this would be a rather expensive 
process in comparison with puddling with clay. After the 
puddling operation is completed, the deepest part in the 
pond would be from 2}ft. to 3ft., and this would form the 
most suitable position for depositing the necessary mounds 
of soil for the reception of Nuphars and the more vigorous- 
growing Nymphias that may be selected, the margin being 
suited to the requirements of those plants that only require 
shallow water in which to grow. 
In supplying an artificial pond with water, it is very 
important that the source from which it is obtained should 
be considered, as Aquatics, and more especially the choicer 
kinds of hardy Nymphias, do not flourish satisfactorily in 
continually running water of a low temperature, as by a 
continuous current of cold water entering the pond, and 
this observation applies particularly to the odorata group. 
Therefore, for the benefit of the plants, every provision 
possible should be made to ensure as high and as constant 
a temperature as possible, more especially during the time 
that the plants are in active growth. A pond situated in a 
sheltered, sunny ‘position provides the best aspect, 
especially so for those of tender habit, and it would 
conduce to a greater prolongation of their flowering period. 
Where a sufficient, constant, and steady supply can be laid 
on from an extraneous lake, river, or stream, it will be of 
great advantage to do so, this being more beneficial to the 
health of the plants than that supplied direct from a 
natural spring or drawn from a low-level in the earth. 
The water obtained from the last-named sources is of too 
chilly a nature to favour a luxuriant growth, whereas the 
former would obviously best meet the plants’ require- 
ments, it being aérated and, consequently, of a higher 
temperature. The inrush of any considerable quantity of 
water should also be avoided, as the disturbance caused 
thereby is caleulated to be detrimental to their well doing. 
All that is réally required is a sufficient supply of water to 
prevent stagnation, and, when this is well regulated, 
successful culture will be in a great measure assured. 
Means should also be taken to prevent the level of the 
water from fluctuating to any appreciable extent by 
constructing an outlet at the intended water-level line, 
which will suffice for carrying off a similar quantity of 
water to that which enters the pond. 
Where an opportunity is afforded of forming a small 
pond in connection with a well-made rockery, provided one 
does not already exist, if properly constructed and judi- 
ciously planted, it will form an additional charm to that 
always interesting and attractive feature in a garden. In 
its formation an irregular outline should be observed, as 
this would be conducive to its presenting a natural, and 
therefore more pleasing, appearance when completed. 
In gardens of limited space brick, stone, or conerete 
tanks about 2}ft. in depth might be constructed, and 
these, if built entirely im the ground with the walls 
gradually sloping outwardly at the top, would minimise the 
risk of their being damaged during a long spell of severe 
frosty weather. A sunny position should be selected, and 
the site and formation of a tank of this description should 
be carefully considered in connection with the surround- 
ings. In its construction 2 natural effect should be aimed 
Aquatic Plants—continued. 
at as much as possible, so that it will not present a too 
formal appearance. 
A supply of water might be laid on by means of pipes, to 
which a valve should be fitted, so that the volume of water 
entering the fank may be regulated. The higher the mean 
temperature at which the water can be maintained in the 
tank, the more generally beneficial will it be for the plants. 
Only sufficient fresh water need be allowed to enter to 
prevent stagnation. An efficient outlet is also a necessity, 
and this should be situated at the intended water-level line 
to prevent any appreciable fluctuation. In favour of tanks 
it may be urged, without in any way depreciating the value 
of ponds, that they afford better facilities for more closely 
viewing the beauty of the Water Lilies than is the case 
when the plants are situated in large pieces of water. 
Ordinary tanks or fountain-basins, where they already 
exist, if of sufficient depth and dimensions, would be 
available, although their stiff, artificial appearance makes 
them less pleasing to the eye in comparison with those which 
are designed on more natural lines. In the case of fountain- 
basins choice plants should not be allowed to occupy 
positions where sprays of water would be continually 
falling upon them when the fountain is playing. 
Ina naturally-formed piece of water where a deposit of 
several inches of mud has accumulated, very little difficulty 
will be “occasioned in establishing the plants if due care be 
taken to make their roots secure. But should the bottom 
be of a gravelly nature, or otherwise unsuitable to their 
requirements, then mounds of soil, consisting of good, 
rich, heavy loam of a tenacious nature, with about one- 
third of well-decomposed cow- or stable-manure, to which a 
little leaf-soil might be added, although it is not absolutely 
necessary, and the whole thoroughly incorporated, should 
be deposited for their reception. This also applies to 
the planting of artificial ponds, unless it be intended 
to grow the plants in submerged tubs or boxes—a plan, 
however, which, in the case of a pond of any large extent, 
cannot be recommended as being more satisfactory than 
that of planting them out on mounds. 
Where it is inconvenient or undesirable to lower the 
depth of the water sufficiently to allow of the planting of 
Aquatics directly into the mud, or mounds of soil, in which 
they are to grow, a good method is to plant them firmly in 
similar soil to that recommended above, in baskets about 
2ift. in diameter and from 6in. to 9in. deep—what are 
known as small nursery rounds would answer the purpose. 
This operation should be performed as expeditiously 
as possible, afterwards lowering the baskets from a 
punt or raft into the positions the plants are to occupy, 
whether on the bed or on the mounds of soil, as the 
case may be. When the baskets become decayed, or even 
before, the roots will be found to have penetrated through, 
and have taken possession of the mud or soil below, 
attended with a corresponding vigorous growth of the 
entire plant. In the case of Nymphieas, only strong, 
healthy plants should be submitted to this treatment. 
Small plants should be nursed in shallower water, or where 
they would be under close observation, until sufficiently 
strong to be transferred to deeper quarters. In the case of 
small plants it is advisable to remove the flower-buds as 
they appear. The compost recommended to be used 
for planting in the above instance would be that 
which would also be found to meet the requirements of 
those grown in all circumstances where beds, tubs, or boxes 
are used for their reception, provided a minimum depth of 
Yin. of same be allowed for them to develop as much root 
growth as possible. This compost would also serve for the 
purpose of renovating the surface whenever necessary, and 
this operation is invariably attended with good results if 
done before each season’s growth commences. 
Where sufficient space exists for the inclusion of a repre- 
sentative collection of the most ornamental Aquatics, a 
water-garden may be made all the more attractive by a 
