WATER LILIES AND OTHER 

 AQUATIC PLANTS 



IN the great economy of Nature provision has been made for 

 vegetation in all kinds of situations swamps, deserts, mountains, 

 valleys, cliffs, and seashore. The aquatic plants can vie with any 

 other section in beauty and luxuriance. As might be expected, 

 they are for the most part vigorous growers of succulent habit ; 

 but, what is of the most importance from our present point of 

 view, many produce large, beautiful, and perfumed flowers. 



In the old days of bedding plants it was very rarely that a 

 water garden was provided. True, on large estates Water Lilies 

 were often grown in the lake which was usually to be found in 

 the park, or some other part of the grounds ; but aquatic plants 

 were not, as a rule, grown within the confines of the garden 

 proper. Happily, things have changed, and we now see them in 

 almost all gardens where real interest is taken in plants. 



There are two great reasons for the change which has taken 

 place (i) The removal of the misconception which existed as to 

 the requirements of Aquatics ; (2) the increased number of beauti- 

 ful varieties introduced and exhibited by florists. Because Water 

 Lilies were only grown in large lakes in years gone by, a belief 

 appears to have grown up that they would fail in other circumstances. 

 It was assumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that they 

 would only thrive under the opulent shadow of Privilege. The 

 old white Water Lily, Nymphaea alba, was regarded as the legiti- 

 mate possession of the large landowner. It was placed in much 

 the same position among plants as the peacock was among birds. 



With the spread of a love for hardy plants among all classes 



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