IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



that a south exposure may be selected ; but it is possible 

 that the heat of a terrace or on the leads may be excessive 

 occasionally, unless the tub be sunk in the soil or the sides 

 covered with virgin cork or rockwork, in which trailing 

 plants may be grown. 



An empty cask which has contained paraffin will make 

 two tubs of a convenient size if sawn in half; and these 

 must be thoroughly charred inside by burning sticks or 

 shavings in them, until the whole of the interior is black 

 and all trace of the oil is gone. The tub should then be 

 filled with water to test this ; and if there be no trail of 

 paraffin on the surface in a week's time, the work will have 

 been well done. 



The nymphasas must be planted as soon as they arrive, 

 or else immediately plunged entirely into water for a few 

 days ; it is, therefore, desirable to make all necessary pre- 

 parations beforehand. At the bottom of the tub or tank an 

 inch or two of broken crocks mixed with lumps of charcoal 

 should be placed, and on this a layer of turfs with the grass 

 side downwards, then a layer of decayed oak-leaves (or other 

 leaves where these are not procurable), and on these a 

 compost of good rich loam (without fresh manure, how- 

 ever), in which the lily is planted, placing a few flat stones 

 around it to make it firm in the soil, and the surface may be 

 covered with sand or gravel if preferred. The water (which 

 should be tepid) should then be added immediately, using a 

 rosed can for the purpose, from which the water should 

 trickle against the side of the tub, so as to avoid any 

 disturbance of the soil, filling the tub thus gradually. 

 Unless special measures are taken to keep the water pure, 

 it will become thick and foul within a few weeks ; but this 

 difficulty is best remedied by the introduction of a few newts 

 (two or three for each tub), these useful little creatures 

 acting as the most thorough scavengers of the water, so 

 that, if they should be placed in a tub which contains thick 

 water, they will clear it entirely within a few days. Once 

 established in the tubs, the newts (Triton cristatus) propa- 

 gate themselves, and seem to thrive ; those in the writer's 



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