34 PLANTING NHLVMBIVMS. 



When it is deemed best to plant out the Lilies in the pond itself, put from 

 twelve to fifteen inches of soil over the bottom, or on that section of the pond 

 which is to be planted. Make the soil moderately firm in either instance, and 

 in all cases cover the surface with an inch or two of sand, this to prevent the 

 manure from rising or mixing with the water, thus giving it the appearance of 

 liquid manure, which would be most objectionable. 



The Native Water Lily, Nymph;ea odorata, and its varieties, have a 

 rhizomateous creeping root stock sending out numerous side shoots; a good, 

 healthy root with a plump leading shoot is sufficient to make a good, strong 

 plant, and produce a good crop of flowers the first season. When planting, all 

 that is necessary is to press the roots into the soft soil, leaving them some- 

 what obliquely with the crown just under the soil. The European species and 

 its hybrids grow more compactly, making large clumps and specimen plants; 

 others, particularly Nymphaea pygmaea, produce no sideshoots or offsets, having 

 but the single crown, and are but moderate growers. 



New plants may be set out after growth is apparent at any time during 

 the season, and as late as August ; or plants from pots, and which have several 

 leaves may be used, but to produce flowers the same season, plant early. 

 Pot plants with a ball of soil and roots are in the best condition for planting. 

 In planting, remove a small proportion of the prepared soil (sufficient to make 

 a hole to hold the plant), afterward, make all secure, and level off similarly to 

 planting in a flower-bed. It is immaterial whether or not the water be 

 deeper than that in which the plants have been growing previously; the plant 

 will adjust itself to the new quarters, and in an incredibly short space of time 

 the leaves will be floating on the surface of the water, even if svibmerged two 

 feet at the time of planting. 



Nelumbiums are impatient of removal, and should not be disturbed in 

 their winter quarters, or transplanted until there is warm, settled weather, 

 new growth perceptible, and the conditions of the pond such as to insure active 

 growth at once. Such conditions exist about the middle or end of April, and 

 during May, according to the section of country. Nelumbiums should not be 

 planted in a small pond where Nymphaeas are growing, unless a division wall 

 confine them to a given space, or they will soon ramble over the whole pond, 

 and the dense foliage will then smother the Nymphaeas out of existence. The 

 tubers of Nelumbiums vary in size from a few inches to three feet in length, 

 but the latter is exceptional ; they are very brittle, and care should be taken in 

 handling and planting that the roots are not bruised or damaged. A good 



