116 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1898. 



Among those who have been instrumental in improving lilies 

 and popularizing water gardening in our own country, mention 

 should be made of Mr. Sturtevant of Bordentown, New Jersey, 

 who has been styled the Father of Water Lily Culture in 

 America. A superb variety with bright, rosy red flowers bears 

 his name. In 1839, R. Buist began his devotion to lily culture 

 and was another pioneer. Not until 1883 did water gardening 

 gain any prominence. In 1886 it began to be a feature in the 

 Philadelphia Parks. In 1888, Mr. Goodell of Dwight, Mass., 

 exhibited aquatic flowers at the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society rooms in Boston which excited enthusiasm. Mr. S. C. 

 Nash of Clifton, N. J., transformed four acres that produced 

 a rank growth of weeds, muskrats, and mosquitoes into a pond 

 of marvellous beauty, rich in its flora of water plants. The 

 names of Tricker, Gray, Bryden, Blomberg and others might 

 be enumerated as contributing their share in the advancement 

 of "Water Gardening." 



If we are fortunate enough to have a natural pond its location 

 is made and it falls upon us to develop nature, but if we have 

 to construct a pond then it becomes our duty to imitate nature. 

 The ideal spot is one sheltered from the cold winds, having a 

 bank on the north side that can be appropriately planted and 

 trees in the background. If our location is on a level plot then 

 we must produce the above efiect by planting. 



A location for a pond must be secured where the sun will 

 shine on it the greater part of the day. The water must be 

 available and controllable so that the height of it can be raised 

 or lowered at pleasure. If it should be a stream with a strong 

 current a way would have to be provided for the water to run 

 after the pond was full. Water containing salt, lime or iron is 

 not suitable to grow plants in. 



The water should not be changed often for it reduces the 

 temperature and in still waters plants receive more available 

 plant food from decomposing insects and organic matter. 

 When it becomes necessary for any cause to change the water 

 while the lilies are in the pond, it should be done on a cloudy 

 day. At first the water should be but six inches deep, it being 



