1 70 The Flower Garden [Chapter 



When the dish becomes crowded transplant into 

 other dishes, keeping plants out of water as short a 

 time as possible. When the nights are warm at 

 least 60 plant out in tubs or ponds. For the first 

 year an eight by ten foot pond may have a Nelum- 

 bium in the centre, two or three Zanzibar varieties 

 on either side, and pink and white Nymphaeas at the 

 end. If the plants have done well reduce the number 

 the second year. 



Water Hyacinths are found interesting principally 

 because they are more or less of a novelty even at 

 the South, having been introduced from Venezuela 

 about fourteen years ago. This plant has already 

 proved itself a nuisance in the Florida rivers, seriously 

 interfering with navigation and calling for appropria- 

 tions from the Government for its destruction. In 

 house or garden cultivation the roots increase rapidly. 

 A small plant set in a tub in full sunshine in May 

 will fill it by August. The leaves form rosettes and 

 expand at the stem into a sort of bladder that sup- 

 ports the plant on the surface of the water. The 

 roots trail in the water until the plant is ready to 

 bloom, when they enter the soil. The flowers are a 

 pleasing shade of lavender with a yellow centre and 

 form in spikes like a Hyacinth. Paris green must not 

 be used in the water where the Hyacinths are grown, 

 but lumps of charcoal and a small quantity of kero- 

 sene may be substituted. 



A few Water Poppies holding their bright yellow 



