ii6 WALL AND WATER GARDENS 



further side of a small pond. No plant can be more 

 important in the water-garden ; but its scale is so large 

 and its whole appearance so surprising that it is well 

 to let it have a good space to itself. The Gunneras 

 are natives of the cooler mountain regions of the north 

 of South America, but have proved hardy in England 

 in all but the most trying climates. They are splendid 

 in Cornwall and the south-west of Ireland. 



A most important water-side plant is from Japan, 

 the beautiful Iris Icevigata. It rejoices in rich moist 

 soil close to the edge of the water. 



Another water-loving Iris of the easiest culture, 

 liking a damp place by the water, is /. sibirica, with 

 its larger variety orientalis. If the two are planted 

 together and young ones are grown from seed, which 

 is borne freely and easily germinates, a whole range 

 of beautiful forms will ensue. There are already 

 several colourings of /. sibirica, the white being of 

 special beauty, but all are good flowers, with their 

 thick tuft of leaves gracefully bending over and their 

 daintily veined flowers borne on perfectly upright 

 stems. This Iris has the hollow reed-like stem that 

 proclaims it a water-loving plant. 



The Cape has sent us a delightful water-plant in 

 Aponogeton distackyon, very easily grown in a shallow 

 pond or tank. It has neat oval floating leaves and 

 curious whitish flowers that fork into two flowery 

 prongs ; they have a white alabaster-like appearance 

 and a scent like Hawthorn. 



From North America comes one of the very best 

 water-plants, Pondeteria cordata, beautiful alike in its 



