260 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



of only moderate size they should be used with caution, or they 

 would soon shut out Nymphaeas and other aquatics whose leaves and 

 flowers float on the water. Much less robust in their growth are 

 Typha angustifolia and T. minima. Very striking, too, are the 

 arrow-shaped leaves and white spikes of blossom of Sagittaria 

 sagittaefolia and the Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata). The flowers 

 of the latter are very sweet-scented and arranged in racemes ; they 

 are beautifully fringed, pure white, slightly tinged with pink outside. 

 This also must be kept in check to prevent injury to other aquatics. 

 A handsome American aquatic, quite hardy in shallow water, is 

 Pontederia cordata, with handsome spikes of blue flowers and almost 

 erect leaves on long stalks about 18 inches or more in height. The 



Natural grouping of waterside plants. From a photograph sent by M. Louis Kropatsch, Imperial 



Gardens, Vienna. 



Bog Arum (Calla palustris), though only about 9 inches high, when 

 planted in groups is most effective. The well-known Arum Lily 

 (Calla aethiopica) may in the west and south of England at all 

 events also be used as an aquatic for shallow water. Though a 

 severe winter will cut it down, the roots below the surface of the 

 water will push forth new leaves and flowers in great profusion. At 

 Trelissick, near Truro, the pond was skated on for several weeks, 

 and 1 6 and 18 of frost were registered during the severe winter two 

 years ago, but in the following spring many thousands of Arum 

 Lilies were cut from the very same pond. 



MARGINS OF WATER. The water-soaked margins of our ponds 

 and brooks would furnish a home for many graceful fine-foliaged and 



