254 PONDS AND LAKES. 



many of the blossoms, and earlier tban nine some of the kinds 

 have not yet opened their flowers. A sight of this pond in 

 August and early in September is worth a considerable jour- 

 ney to see ; and hardly less effective are the lotuses and lily 

 plantations in boxes to be seen in the great fountain-basin 

 at the Terrace. 



Yet probably more effective, and certainly more attrac- 

 tive, on account of location, is the Union Square fountain, 

 with its beautiful spray of water and vigorous water-plants, 

 and in addition its outside collar of red alternanthera sward, 

 planted with islands of geraniums. By electric light in the 

 evening, or in the early morning sunlight, the effect of these 

 lily-pads and lotus-leaves bedewed with globules of water 

 is magical. Half a dozen, in fact, about all the fountain- 

 basins in down-town New York are treated in this manner, 

 and at almost any time before midnight, scores of people 

 are gathered about them enjoying the beauties of the lilies 

 and lotuses nor, as the years go on, does the interest in 

 them seem to flag. Indeed, among all decorations for 

 architectural structures where a pool of water can be in- 

 troduced, I believe there is nothing that can excel the lily 

 and lotus. So confident am I of this, that I believe the 

 time is not far distant when no fountain-basin will be 

 considered completely equipped without them. In Central 

 Park we have already begun to plant the shores extensively 

 with them. At present this applies especially to the Pool at 

 100th Street and Eighth Avenue. There is a good deal of 

 labor required in the preparation of rich soil on the shores, 

 but we hope, nevertheless, in a few years to have our lakes as 

 well stocked with lilies and lotuses as our fountain-basins. 



