WATER GARDENING IN CALIFORNIA. 15 



"In a late number of Harper's Magazine, one of our ablest horti- 

 cultural writers discoursed very pleasantly upon the 'Possibilities of 

 Horticulture.' We feel confident that if this writer could have seen 

 our collection of aquatic plants in full bloom, he would have added to 

 his list of possibilities the water garden, or the garden of aquatic plants. 

 We confess to an enthusiasm in this direction, and predict that at no 

 distant day this branch of gardening will receive a large share of atten- 

 tion." 



This prophecy is surely now fulfilled. Xot only are these plants 

 found in a multitude of private gardens, but every public park of 

 importance and every botanical garden in the United States is growing 

 a full collection. They are universally admitted to form one of their 

 most attractive features. Hybridists, both in Europe and America, 

 have been, during all these years, exercising an almost magical skill, and 

 have produced varieties with colors unknown twenty-five years ago. 

 Especially is this true in the hardy class, where various shades of bril- 

 liant red and orange red are now found. 



It 'might seem, at first thought, that California, being such a dry 

 country, the conditions are not favorable for the culture of water plants. 

 But our city gardens are supplied with water in the same manner as in 

 the east. In the country, the windmill is ever the ready servant; and 

 where irrigation is practised, nothing could be more simple than to turn 

 the stream aside to supply the water garden. Natural ponds and lakes 

 are rare, but a few such exist, and I believe that they are suitable for 

 the naturalization of many hardy water lilies and the famous Egyptian 

 lotus. 



LILY PONDS. 



The simplest arrangement for growing water plants is a collection 

 of large tubs of half hogsheads, located in a sunny position and partly 

 fiJJed with soil. A much better plan is to make a pool by excavating the 

 ground two or three feet. The walls should be made of brick, stone, or 

 concrete, and the bottom covered with concrete, using cement for all 

 the work. There should also be a waste-pipe at the bottom with a 

 stand-pipe for overflow. In a basin eight or ten feet across quite a 

 variety of plants may be grown, using wooden boxes or shallow tubs 

 to hold the soil. 



Those having fountain basins in their grounds can utilize 1 them in 

 the same manner. It is not necessary that there should be a continuous 

 flow of water, but during the growing season enough should run in each 

 day to prevent stagnation and to keep the plants in health. 



While most water lilies will flower freely in contracted quarters, 

 they will attain greater perfection, with much larger flowers, if they 

 have abundance of room both for the roots and the leaves. Basins 



