THE ISIS IN JUNE 223 



St. John's wort, the bulrushes, and, above all, the 

 pink flowering-rush, are set like sentinels to watch the 

 stream, in which the lilies, water-plantain, and villarsia 

 float and blossom, supported by the density of the 

 water itself, which takes the place of the upright stalk, 

 and leaves them free to spread themselves in ever- 

 increasing areas of natural growth. Most of the upright 

 water plants may be made to live and blossom indoors. 

 If the yellow Iris or the flowering rush be pulled 

 up by the roots from the river bank or the mud, 

 and planted in a bucket, with plenty of river soil 

 round them, they will flower even more gaily than 

 when in the stream. Even the lily buds will open 

 and last in perfection for days, if they be set in the sun y 

 and the water be not allowed to drown the petals. 



