240 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



NYMPH^AS, TENDER AND HARDY. 



By James Brydon, Gardener to Hon. John Simpkins, 

 Yarmouth PORT. 



The popularity of both the tender and hardy water lilies, 

 especially the latter, has greatly increased during the last ten 

 years. This is not surprising when one considers their wealth of 

 grace and beauty, and the comparative ease with which they may 

 be grown. Few flowers elicit the admiration of the public like 

 water lilies. 



Their cultivation is very simple, few plants responding more 

 readily to the care of the cultivator. 



The soil best suited to them is a mixture of two-thirds loam and 

 one-third decomposed manure. This should be stacked up in 

 November, for use in the following spring. 



Those not in possession of large lily ponds need not be deterred 

 from attempting their culture, as very good flowers can be obtained 

 by planting in tubs; or in small tanks, built of brick and cement, 

 and sunk level with the surface of the lawn. A tank about 

 six feet square and two and one-half feet deep, will accommodate 

 two or three of the smaller growing species quite w^ell ; larger 

 tanks will, of course, admit of more varieties being grown, and 

 therefore give a better display. The soil need not exceed eight 

 inches in depth and can be spread evejily over the bottom. In the 

 case of large ponds I prefer using boxes four feet square and one 

 foot deep. This gives plenty of soil for one season's growth. 

 The Nymphseas best suited for tubs or small tanks are the Marliac 

 varieties — notably MarUacea chromatella — and of the tender varie- 

 ties for this purpose N. azurea and N. cd'.rulea succeed admirably. 



I have found April the best month to overhaul and replant all 

 the hardy varieties. It should be done as early in the month as 

 the weather will permit. Filling in the boxes or tanks with new 

 soil, and resetting a good, healtliy piece of the root, or rhizome, 

 Cfjmpletes the operation. Annual transplanting gives finer flowers 

 and greatly lengthens the season of blooming. It should be borne 

 in mind, however, when replanting, that the largest sized roots or 

 crowns are not so satisfactory as medium to small ones ; the latter 

 being far more floriferous. After the work of transplanting is 



