706 



NYMPH^A. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



NYMPH^EA. 



than under the more artificial conditions 

 of the cemented tank. But if neither ponds 

 nor tanks are available, these Water-lilies 

 can still be easily grown, for, as M. 

 Latour-Marliac says, like Diogenes, they 

 can content themselves in a tub. 



" The enemies of Water-lilies are water- 

 rats and swans and other water birds, 

 especially moorhens, which often pull 

 them to pieces. Moorhens are very de- 

 structive to the flowers, and should be 

 closely watched. There is, however, 

 another enemy. We noticed it first by 

 seeing leaves detached and floating. On 

 the water becoming clearer one could 

 see what appeared to be small bits of 

 stick an inch or so long attached in 

 numbers to the leaf-stalk. It was the 

 grub of the caddis fly with its house upon 

 its back. In the hollow stick it was safe 

 from the fish, and, fastening upon the 



establish colonies of these flowers, of 

 charming effect from June to September. 

 The water is best when open to the sun, 

 renewed by only a small inflow, and if 

 possible sheltered from rough winds by 

 the lie of the land or by a belt of shrubs. 

 The water should be cleared of coarse 

 weeds and in most cases the natural mud 

 is the best soil in which to plant. In 

 artificial pools a layer of soil may be pre- 

 pared by mixing loam with a little sand 

 and some of the rich deposit of grit, 

 leaves, and mud so often left behind by 

 water when in flood. This is the natural 

 food of the Water-lily, and manure only 

 excites rank leaf-growth and predisposes 

 to disease. Little mounds may be made 

 by laying a few sods together, but if the 

 depth of water makes this difficult the 

 plants may be simply lowered into place 

 planted firmly in baskets and the mud 



Hardy American Water-lily (N. tuberosa). 



young and tender leaf-stalk, the grubs 

 fed away until the leaf was eaten asunder. 

 Strongly-established plants are not likely 

 to suffer, but a watch should be kept on 

 young plants if rare varieties." The 

 common water rat or vole is an active 

 destroyer of the flowers, and where it 

 inhabits water, as it commonly does all 

 ponds and streams, nearly all the flowers 

 will be destroyed if this animal is not 

 constantly kept down. 



In the recent story of our open air 

 gardens there have been no gains so good 

 as those which have transformed our 

 waters into gardens of beautiful, hardy 

 plants. Wherever there exists a stream- 

 let, we may^arrange a water-garden, and 

 in the many places where pieces of water 

 already exist, nothing is easier than to 



pressed around them. May is a good 

 time for planting, and (for established 

 plants) the flower season begins in June, 

 reaches its height in August, and in good 

 years lasts into October. After growing 

 for three or four years, some kinds get too 

 thick and these may be raised and 

 divided late in April ; others we have had 

 in the same place for ten years with no 

 loss of health or bloom. 



A crowded water-garden is often a 

 matter of necessity, but where space is 

 at command the plants are best in bold 

 groups and far enough apart to keep the 

 kinds distinct. The depth of water may 

 vary from a foot to as much as 7 feet, but 

 only the strongest kinds will thrive in 

 water as deep as this. The flowers vary 

 as to opening and closing, and while on 



