AQUATIC PLANTS. OENAMENTAL BUILDINGS. 147 



is a pretty white-flowered floating aquatic, and although 

 it comes 'from the Cape it is hardy. 



The broad leaved Cat's-tail, Typlia latifolia, produces its 

 large flowers abundantly in shallow water. The three- 

 leaved Buckbean, Menyanthes trifoliata, has white flowers, 

 and also does in shallow water. Other good water plants 

 are Nuphar lutea, the yellow Water Lily, and Nuphar 

 advena, from North America, with yellow and red flowers, 

 Hottonia palustris, flesh-coloured flowers, and the Alls- 

 mas. That flower of splendid blue, the Water Forget- 

 me-not, Myosotis palustris, grows on the margin of the 

 water ; where it will gro^ it should never be left out, on 

 account of its brilliant colour. The handsome Spiraa, 

 of which there are several sorts of great beauty and 

 various colours, does well in a moist situation near 

 water. 



Buildings of various kinds are used for garden decora- 

 tion. Most apropos among them to the subject of the 

 last few paragraphs is the bridge, which may look pretty 

 and in character if it be useful, but in poor taste if it 

 lead nowhere but where any one could go as well without 

 its aid. A bridge seems out of place on any piece of 

 water which one can easily walk round, but not so if it 

 be to cross a rivulet. A mere footbridge of planks, with 

 a hand-rail on one side, or on both, is the simplest bridge, 

 and if a weeping willow, or other graceful growing trees 

 be planted near, it makes a pretty feature in the land- 

 scape. The more simple such a bridge is left the 

 better, for appearance it does not even need painting. 

 If the character of the site be more artificial from high 

 cultivation, a more set erection, either of wood, brick, or 

 stone, may be more in character, and the approaches may 

 be raised so as to lift the bridge higher above the water. 

 If the immediate locality have a romantic character, make 

 the bridge of unhewn slabs of stone or rock on strong 

 supports ; but everything in the shape of a bridge should 

 not only be safe, but should look so in breadth, strength, 

 and stability. 



A grotto is appropriate near water, and if the situa- 

 tion be warm and sunny, it is useful as well as orna- 



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