262 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



limited to Ferns. It is in such a position Primula japonica and sik- 

 kimensis delight. Here also the blue Himalayan Poppy (Meconopsis 

 Wallichi), the tall yellow Gentian (Gentiana lutea), and the bright 

 blue Mertensia virginica will flourish as well as Saxifraga peltata, 

 Sanguinaria canadensis, Podophyllum Emodi, the handsome P. pel- 

 tatum, and Rodgersia podophylla, while Trillium grandiflorum and 

 Solomon's Seal will be at their best. There is, no doubt, a number 

 of other suitable plants for the water garden, especially if we include 

 the plants generally known as bog plants, which, however, are per- 

 haps more suitable for the bog bed of a rock garden than the bolder 

 margins of ponds or lakes, but enough plants have been enumerated 

 to show that we have a great variety to pick from, and that certainly 

 there is a great future for the water garden. F. W. MEYER, Elmside, 

 Exeter. 



It is now some fifteen or sixteen years since I planted the common 

 white Water Lily in the pond here. Noting how well it grew, I was 

 induced to try the pink or rose-coloured form of it which had been 

 introduced from Norway i.e., Nymphaea alba var. rosea. Finding, 

 too, that this was thriving, I further extended the Lily culture by the 

 addition of a dozen more varieties and species. Of these I have only 

 lost N. flava, and that occurred during the severe frost of 1894-95. 

 All that I gave in the way of protection then was laying a few mats 

 upon the ice when it was sufficiently strong to bear one's weight, and 

 that small amount of protection was more in the form of a prevent- 

 ive against any skaters running over them where the ice was none 

 too strong, and possibly cause injury should it have given way. Dur- 

 ing that winter the ice was unusually thick ; so much so here must it 

 have been as to almost, if not quite, reach the Lily roots, the depth of 

 water over them then being only about 1 2 inches. No better test of 

 their hardiness is, I think, needed than this, save in the case of N. 

 flava. Last spring I added N. Robinsoni, the present winter being of 

 course its first test, but of its hardiness I have not the slightest doubt. 

 In addition to the foregoing I have three of the pigmy varieties, 

 which, with a distinct form of the common white from Norway, make 

 in all eighteen kinds or varieties. 



In the spring, when I added the twelve varieties (chiefly those 

 of M. Latour-Marliac's raising), these being small tubers, I com- 

 menced by putting them carefully into soil in large-sized punnets, 

 the entire dozen coming to hand in one parcel by post. I mention 

 this so that some idea may be formed of the then size of the tubers 

 compared with the present time. During the summer of 1 894 they 

 grew well, making steady progress, and towards the autumn a few 

 flowers appeared on the strongest plants. The following summer 

 (i.e., 1895) a most marked progress was made the stronger-growing 



