WATER GARDENS. 171 



not so tall, is, nevertheless, most suitable, as are also its smaller, but 

 still more handsome companions, Spiraea palmata, S. alba, S. astil- 

 boides, and Astilbe rivularis. 



It is now some fifteen or sixteen years since I planted the common 



white Water-Lily in the pond here. Noting how well it grew, I was 



induced to try the pink or rose-coloured form of 



Water-Lilies at it which had been introduced from Norway i.e., 



Gunnersbury. Nymphaea alba var. rosea. Finding, too, that this 

 was thriving, I further extended the Lily culture 

 by the addition of a dozen more varieties and species. Of these I 

 have only lost N. flava, and that occurred during the severe frost 

 of 1894-95. All that I gave in the way of protection then was 

 laying a few mats upon the ice when it was sufficiently strong to 

 bear one's weight, and that small amount of protection was more in 

 the form of a preventive against any skaters running over them 

 where the ice was none too strong, and possibly cause injury should 

 it have given way. During that winter the ice was unusually thick ; 

 so much so here must it have been as to almost, if not quite, reach 

 the Lily roots, the depth of water over them then being only about 

 12 inches. No better test of their hardiness is, I think, needed 

 than this, save in the case of N. flava. Last spring I added 

 N. Robinsoni, the present winter being of course its first test, but of 

 its hardiness I have not the slightest doubt. In addition to the 

 foregoing I have three of the pigmy varieties, which, with a 

 distinct form of the common white from Norway, make in all 

 eighteen kinds or varieties. 



In the spring, when I added the twelve varieties (chiefly those 

 of M. Latour Marliac's raising), these being small tubers, I com- 

 menced by putting them carefully into soil in large-sized punnets, 

 the entire dozen coming to hand in one parcel by post. I mention 

 this so that some idea may be formed of the then size of the tubers 

 compared with the present time. During the summer of 1894 they 

 grew well, making steady progress, and towards the autumn a few 

 flowers appeared on the strongest plants. The following summer 

 (i.e., 1895) a most marked progress was made, the stronger-growing 

 kinds beginning to give some indications of their true character, 

 whilst the flowering period was well prolonged and a considerable 

 number of flowers produced. Seeing that more room was essential 

 for their perfect development, I decided to provide for this by care- 

 fully lifting the plants last spring when the first indications of growth 

 were visible. This operation was performed about two years from 

 the time of first planting them, but so well had they rooted in the case 

 of the strong growing kinds, that it took three men to lift them with 

 digging forks, several of the roots being as large as one's fingers and 



