CULTIVATION. 6i 



The Victoria requires a depth of eighteen inches to two feet of water above 

 the crown of the plant, and to grow it in a pond with Nymphasas, a pit must be 

 made for it; this must be one foot below the bottom of the pond, and should 

 be large enough to hold about one hundred and fifty cubic feet of soil, such as 

 recommended for growing Nymphaeas. 



In a pond of sufficient size, large enough to grow a Victoria and Nym- 

 phaeas together, it is necessary for an attendant to walk between the plants, and 

 the depth of water must, therefore, not greatly exceed two feet ; this, with boxes 

 one foot deep for the Nymphasas, will give about one foot of water above the 

 crowns of those plants, but a foot of water is not sufficient for the Victoria, 

 twenty to twenty-four inches is necessary; this additional depth of water is 

 obtained by sinking the pit to hold the soil one foot below the bottom level of 

 the pond. This pit should be 12x12 feet wide and 2 feet deep inside measure- 

 ment. The walls may be built of 4-inch brickwork, with an 8-inch buttress 

 in the center of each wall; the bricks should be laid in cement, and the walls — 

 which should be one foot above the level of the bottom of the pond — should be 

 faced with Portland cement on both sides; the bottom may be laid in concrete 

 or puddled with good clay; it must be water-tight throughout. As this is 

 intended for early planting— say first week in May — the pond, and especially 

 the pits, must be heated and a temporary cover provided, the latter may be 

 made of ordinary lumber, similar to a hotbed, made in sections and fastened 

 together with hooks — the width of the pit requires two 6-foot sashes to cover 

 it. The frame may be made one continuous pitch, the sashes overlapping each 

 other, but a better way is to make a frame, the sashes pitching in opposite 

 directions making an equal span roof. This will be found easy to handle for 

 ventilation and inspection of plants. 



Where two or more Victorias are to be grown in one pond, it will be better 

 to grow them on in pits covered with frame and sash as above described, 

 and these heated separately until about the first of June, or until the plants 

 become too crowded and need more space. At this date the tender Nymphaeas 

 should be planted; these should be strong plants that will give immediate 

 effect. The Victoria plants must receive first consideration, and additional 

 firing may be necessary during cool spells to maintain the desired temperature. 

 This temperature will also be highly beneficial for the Nymphaeas. 



The system of heating the water must be decided upon before the pits are 

 built. If in conjunction with a healing plant already on the ground it may be 

 practical and economical to utilize the same, whether steam or hot water, but 



