Nelunilninii^, \mi)i Nymphffias and other aquatic 

 plants. \vt'r«_- uiiinn^ lii.- few flowers known or cultivated 

 by the aiuieuts. Xu luertion is made in history of a 

 yellow Lotus prior to the discovery of America by white 

 men, but over four centuries ago it was well known to 

 and cultivated by the Indians in the waters of the Ten- 

 nessee and Cumberland rivers, and was abundant on 

 the tributaries of the Mississippi. It was carried north- 

 ward and eastward by the Indians, and was established 

 as far east as Connecticut. At the present time (1900) 

 it is established and cultivated in most of the states of 

 the Union. 



The late Isaac Bxichanan received tubers of y. n ucifera 

 from Japan, which were planted in a stream on Long 

 Island, but there they perished. Later other efforts 

 were made, and some tubers from the same source were 

 received and planted by Samuel Henshaw in an artifi- 

 cial pond in the gardens of the late Mr. Green, at New 

 Brighton, Staten Island, X. T., where they grew most 

 satisfactorily, some of the original stock being still in 

 evidence on the estate. 



About the same time E. D. Sturtevant, of Borden- 

 town, N. J., who had introduceil a number of tender 



grown 



nation of the conditi 



determineil to experi 



N.J. Rm,„. ,,, ,., ..i 

 ward |il:ii,i. .i i: .',, 

 mill-l..MMl ■ . l:. 



nto commerce, and knowing of its being 



Jardin des Plantes, Paris, made an exami- 



on under which it existed there and 



nient in the culture at Bordentown, 



r.iin'-il from KewGanleus and after- 



■ V water in a sheltered spot in a 



nr.iwn. Here the plant grew 



iii,.-.<s and hardiness were fully es- 



NEMASTYLIS 1065 



tablished. From here was disseminated the now famous 

 Egyptian Lotus, .Veliimbo nucifera, to all parts of 

 the United States. Several varieties have since tlicu 

 been introduced from Japan, including white and deli- 

 cately tinted varieties, also deep rose, and double toinis 

 of both white and rose. 



The cultivation of the Nelumbium is nf tin- ■•implra. 

 The roots or tubers should not be transplant. d until 

 there is evidence of growth, as the tulHi>. I,, inic u-ii- 

 ally buried deep in the soil below the water and out of 

 the reach of frost, are not affected by the warm rays of 

 sunshine as early ar, Nymphjeas and other terrestrial 

 plants. If Nelumbiums are dug before they start into 

 growth, the tubers should be kept in a warm iilace i.r 

 planted where the temperature is su'-h i!i;ii u'r^-vili will 

 begin atonce. In the Middle Atlanti. i- 



ward and westward, May is the best till. ■ J: 



southward earlier. Tubers maybe iilani. u m -n, w 



water near the margin of the pond wht-re n is inLeiirled 

 they shall grow. The tuber shoulil be placed horizon- 

 tally in the soil, first making a little trench or opening 

 to receive the same and covering with about three 

 inches of soil. Means must be employed to keep the 

 tuber securely in position and, if necessary, a stone or 

 brick laid over the tuber. In artificial ponds a walled 

 section should be built to hold the soil and keep the 

 roots within hounds. The walls should have no corners 

 at right angles; where there are such they should be 

 rounded off, so that the runners are not intercepted and 

 crowded in bunches at the corners. The natural soil 

 and deposit in ponds are, in most cases, all that is re- 

 quired for these plants. They will flourish equally well 

 in a stiff or tenacious soil, but when grown in artilii-ial 

 ponds it is best to use a mixture of two ptirts turfy hiara 

 and one part thoroughly rotted cow manure. l)<i not 

 use fresh or green manure, ami wlicii pc.ssil.le have 

 sods cut in the fall and vtark. .1 with thf manure (in 

 this case it may be fr.-hi. In .ul) s],riii:,' have the 

 same turned over two im- tlir<-' tini.s 1m fnre using. 

 Resort may be had to cultivation in tul.-, l,ut the Lotus 

 being such a gross feeder the result in most cases is 

 that the plants are starved into rest at an early date. 

 The leaves turn a sickly yellow and present a sorry ap- 

 pearance, and in many cases produce no flowers. If no 

 other method can be adopted, then secure the largest 

 tubs possible and during the growing season use liquid 

 or artificial manure liberally. 



It must be understood that while the Neluml)iums are 

 hardy, they are only so as long as the tubers are out of 

 the reach of frost. The depth to which frost penetrates 

 the soil or water may be termed a dead line. 



The tubers are farinaceous and edible, and are of 

 Considerable market value in Japan, but a taste must 

 tir-t l.e .-ultivatr,! for tlmin in tin- rnitoil States. The 

 mu-krat. liow.vor. lia- ilrxrl,,p,.a a lii-liU' i-nltivated 



As to insect pist.-*, black-fl 

 times troublesome. The bes 

 beetle and its larva;. The leal 

 lent in some sections, and b 

 are attacked, also the stems « 



uuble forms, pure whil 

 black apbi 



lady-bird 

 or ri.ll.r. is preva- 

 nir and old leaves 

 ■avis and flowers, 

 the form of wasps 

 :oi I i \ ■ II sparrows, and as no liquid insecticide can be 

 1,- I, I ' 1\ such as are in the sh.ipe of a dry powder can 

 lii il, poi,,|,.,l on. Paris green, mixed with land plaster 

 or plaster and powdered slake lime, is excellent, but dry 

 liellebore in powder-form, applied by a powder bellows 

 is the best material to exterminate them. 



Wm. Thicker. 



NEMASTYLIS [Greek, thread-like styles; because the 

 styles are not united). Syn., JVemastylus. Irid&ceie. 

 A few species of tender American bulbs, with blue C-lobed 

 fls. about an inch across which last only a day. Strictly 

 Nemastylis is a genus of 3 species, foiiml onh in tlie 

 southern U. S. and characterized by haxini; ih. lilaim nis 



nearly free. Baker, however, in his Ilami) k oi i)ie 



Irideae, includes Chlamydostylis as a subi;. iius of 14 sp,- 



