GROWING WATER LILY AND LOTUS 215 



that they are suitable for the naturalization of the famous Egyptian 

 lotus. 



In the Eastern States we classify aquatics as tender and hardy. 

 The tender kinds are, so to speak, bedded out during summer and 

 removed to a greenhouse in autumn. During the last ten years it has 

 been practically demonstrated that nearly all the tropical varieties 

 can be successfully grown here and left out the entire year. In the 

 Cahuenga foothills nearly every variety of importance has been suc- 

 cessfully grown. I am writing of that place and those portions of the 

 State which have the same climate; but for localities where frosts are 

 frequent or severe, I would recommend that the more tender kinds 

 be either removed in autumn to warmer quarters or else protected by 

 a covering of glass or oiled cloth. I will give a selection of standard 

 varieties with some notes on their requirements in this region: 



Water Lilies. The Victoria regia is the grandest of all aquatics. 

 This most magnificent relative of our common water lily is a native of 

 South America, and is named in honor of the Queen of England. 

 From a seed the size of a pea it will, under proper conditions, in seven 

 months produce a plant having a spread of thirty feet in diameter 

 with perhaps eight or ten leaves each six feet across. The flowers are 

 lovely beyond description; but the monster leaves of the plant are its 

 glory. The flowers on good plants are twelve inches across, pure 

 white, with petals more numerous than in the common water lily. 

 They exhale a most delicious perfume, like that of pineapples, which 

 pervades the air for a considerable distance. 



The Victoria has been grown in the Cahuenga Water Garden with 

 fair success for several seasons. Their first opening occurs in the 

 evening, and the following morning the flower closes entirely, to 

 open the second evening, when another wonderful transformation 

 takes place. Every snow-white petal has assumed a deep pink color, 

 and the flower has lost its fragrance. A new flower appears every four 

 days. 



Many other water lilies succeed admirably, their requirements 

 being much less in every respect than the Victoria. These varieties 

 are discussed and offered in the florists' trade publications. Some of 

 these are the ones commended to the amateur for his small cultures. 



The Lotus. The lotus (Nelumblum speciosum), is a plant of re- 

 markable interest and has been a favorite flower in Japan for a long 

 period of time. It has proved itself to be equally at home on the 

 western continent. We have had the lotus in cultivation in California, 

 and it is worthy of all praise bestowed upon it. As to its culture, it 

 prefers a heavy soil, well enriched. It may be grown in a large shal- 

 low wooden box, submerged in a fountain, or a more liberal space may 

 be given to it in proportion to the size of your basin or pond. Those 



