“™ 
ra, 
1900 SUPPLEMENT—RECENT INTRODUCTIONS, &C. 75 
Aquatic Plants—continued. 
Aquatics, such as Cyperus Papyrus, Thalia dealbata, and 
Sagittaria montevidensis, should be planted in beds, to 
form good bold clumps, and any old or superfluous growth 
eut away before planting; this should be done firmly, 
leaving the crowns just above the top of the soil. The 
smaller-growing kinds may be accommodated in pots at the 
sides, with the surface of the soil just submerged. 
Nelumbiums, which form such an important feature 
in an Aquatic-house, with their large, orbicular-peltate 
leaves and massive flowers—yellow, white, and various 
shades of rose—require very liberal treatment at the roots, 
and plenty of space for their long, fleshy rhizomes to develop 
in. When preparing a bed for their reception, the soil 
should consist of rich, heavy loam (as previously recom- 
mended for Nymphzas), two parts to one of good decom- 
Aquatic Plants—continued. 
deep green, shining leaves; and the elegant little fern-like 
annual, Salvinia natans, which reproduces itself from spores. 
The most suitable time for planting Nymphzas in an 
indoor tank is from the middle to the end of February, 
and this also applies to the majority of tender Aquatics, 
Of course, the occasional introduction of additional plants 
will occur during the growing season—it may be of annuals 
or plants which are best treated as such—and these may be 
included at any time, as they will in no way interfere with 
the general planting and arrangement of the tank for the 
year. When this has all been done, the temperature of the 
water in the tank should be kept at about 70deg. Fahr., 
with a gradual rise as the summer advances : it should then 
not be allowed to exceed 80deg., but this should be main- 
tained as uniformly as possible during the summer months. 
Fic. 72. WaTeER Lity HOUSE aT KEw. 
posed cow- or horse- manure well incorporated. The soil 
should be firmly pressed down, planting the rhizomes 
horizontally, and covering them to a depth of about 6in. 
Nelumbiums are very impatient of root-disturbance, there- 
fore they should seldom be interfered with, even when they 
are well established, beyond giving them an annual sur- 
facing of good rich soil. They may be successfully grown in 
tubs or large pots, but the best results are obtained when 
space admits of their being treated in the manner described 
_ above. 
Floating Aquatics, or those kinds that do not 
necessarily require scil in which to grow, form especial 
objects of beauty when established in small colonies at the 
sides of the tank, and these include the Water Lettuce 
(Pistia Stratiotes), a pretty rosette-like plant with pale 
green leaves ; Limnobium bogotense, which has little, round, 
The house should be freely ventilated on bright sunny days, 
and the paths and sides occasionally damped down to 
prevent the atmosphere from becoming too dry, closing the 
ventilators in the afternoon while the sun is still on the 
house, and at the same time giving the plants a good 
syringing and the paths and sides a thorough damping 
down. Should green or black Aphis affect them, fumigation, 
which is very effectual, should be resorted to; but before 
this is done the surface of the foliage should be quite dry, or 
it will become disfigured. As the season draws to a close, 
the temperature of the water in the tank should be 
gradually diminished to about 60deg. Fahr., and this should 
be maintained throughout the winter months. 
When the season for replanting comes round, before 
operations are commenced it will be advisable to run all 
the water out of the tank, as this will greatly facilitate 
