114 GARDEXIXG FOR PLEASURE. 



feet in diameter, a hundred buds in all stages of develop- 

 ment, aiid one hundred expanded flowers at one time. X. 

 luteum is a beautiful plant, and well worthy of a place in 

 any collection, but iV". speciosiim far surpasses it in ease 

 of culture, rapidity of growth, and freedom of bloom. It 

 will flower the first season it is planted, which is seldom 

 the case with X, luteum, and is constantly in bloom from 

 July till late in October. In the '' Water Lily Garden," 

 N. speriosum has produced some leaves thirty inches 

 across, on foot-stalks five and six feet in length, and 

 flower-stalks of a total length of from five to seven feet. 

 The first day the flowers appear like gigantic Tea Rose 

 buds, of a bright rose color. The second day they open 

 like a Tulip, the base of the petals being creamy white, 

 most beautifully and delicately shaded off toward the 

 end into bright pink. In their last stages of expansion 

 they measure from ten to thirteen inches from tip to tip 

 of petals. They are also delightfully fragrant. The 

 plant is of a rambling nature, and spreads rapidly when 

 placed in a pond. If grown in a Lily tank, along with a 

 general collection, it should be planted in the separate 

 compartments specially arranged for it. It may be 

 grown in a large tub, but better in basins such as I 

 have described. It should not be planted till the grow- 

 ing season has fully arrived. (See fig. 41). The tubers 

 cost from two to four dollars each, according to size. 



Xelumhium Luteum (American Lotus). — Though a 

 native of this country, it is not common. There is 

 scarcely any difference between this and X. speciosum, 

 except in Ibe color of the flowers, which are of a rich 

 sulphur yellow. They are as large as a quart bowl, 

 and have a strong fragrance, entirely unlike that of a 

 Nymphsea. Still, warm water and very rich soil are the 

 conditions for success with these noble plants. A large 

 patch of them, with hundreds of flowers and buds, is a 

 eight never to be forgotten. 



