262 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



of gardeners, and a study of more natural forms of gardening 

 than had enjoyed favour previously, Water Lilies began to receive 

 attention. Experiments soon proved that they were amenable to 

 cultivation in the smallest garden, and not only so, but that they 

 were well worthy of being grown. Hybridisers began to work on 

 the Nymphaeas, alike in England, France, and the United States ; 

 with the result that many beautiful forms were added to the 

 existing list. 



A potent means of bringing home the adaptability of Water 

 Lilies for the smallest places was adopted by some enterprising 

 dealers in hardy plants. It was to form aquatic gardens on a 

 small scale, with real plants and real water, at some of the large 

 flower shows. Thousands of people saw Water Lilies, evidently 

 quite at home, and flowering gaily, within the confines of a corner 

 of an exhibition tent. This was evidence, not to be refuted, that 

 Water Lily culture was open to the amateur of modest means as 

 well as to the owner of large estates. 



While the Nymphaea, or Water Lily, is unquestionably the 

 most important of aquatic plants, it is by no means the only one 

 worth specialising. In this connection we have to consider plants 

 that grow on the margin of lakes and streams, as well as those 

 that grow actually within the water. And this being so, the 

 magnificent Japanese Iris (laevigata or Kaempferi) comes within 

 our purview. This is almost as beautiful and valuable a plant 

 as the Nymphaea itself, for it grows vigorously, and produces 

 large numbers of immense flowers, most brilliantly and diversely 

 coloured. 



Some of the less known Aquatics are very desirable. There 

 is, for instance, the Water Hawthorn, Aponogeton distachyon, 

 a charming white flower, most deliciously perfumed. The Water 

 Violet, Hottonia palustris, is also attractive. The Yellow Water 

 Lily, Nuphar luteum, is a good plant. The Water Soldier, 

 Stratiotes aloides, is pretty. The Bog Bean, Menyanthes trifoliata, 





