Aquatics 



65 ) 



Aquatics 



baskets, tilled with soil, and weighted with stones, 

 which can be sunk in the water. April is a good 

 time to plant hardy aquatics, but they may be left 

 a.s late as July or August if an earlier season is 

 inconvenient. 



The Water Supply. The question of the water 

 supply is of the highest importance. Few aquatics 

 like or require a constant flow of water, and a 

 running stream is unsuited for such things as 

 Nympliicas, although a small bay, out of the 

 current, might be formed at the side for them. 

 A sufficient flow to keep the water pure is desir- 

 able, but it has been found that a small tank will 

 do without an outlet if a supply is at hand to fill 

 up the loss from evaporation. A week or so after 

 tilling the water becomes clear and the plants grow 

 perfectly. When the plants become overcrowded 

 they must be lifted, thinned, and replaced. 



The principal enemies of aquatics in ponds are 

 voles, water-fowl, and water-snails. The lirst must 

 be trapped, the second discouraged from coming 

 near, and the snails kept down by the introduction 

 of a few gold or other flab. 



Culture in Tubs. By way of a makeshift, and 

 where a proper tank cannot be made, Nymphaeas 

 and other hardy aquatics may be grown in tubs 

 3' or more across. The best Water Lilies for this 

 purpose are the forms of N. pygmiea and of N. 

 Laydekeri. A list of hardy water-plants is ap- 

 pended to this article, together with the names of 

 suitable plants for the margins of lakes, ponds, or 

 tanks. 



Indoor aquatics are more under the control of 



the cultivator, and even hardy species will often 

 give better results than outside. Apart from those 

 requiring a high temperature, the Nelumbiums and 

 the new reputedly hardy Victoria Trickeri are only 

 really satisfactory when grown under glass in 

 most parts of the kingdom. For these, and for 

 such Nymphaeas as stellata, very little artificial 

 heat is required in summer. 



Indoor Tanks. The construction of a tank in- 

 doors must be carefully done, and a good founda- 

 tion secured. The masonry requires to be about 

 1' in thickness for all but very small tanks, and 

 laid in cement, the bottom having also 2" or more 

 of good concrete. For convenience it is well to 

 have the plants in tubs, filled with a similar com- 

 post to that used for the hardy plants, and the 

 tank should be sufficiently deep to ensure from 1J-' 

 to 2' of water being above the crowns. Sufficient 

 piping, 4" in diameter, should be in the tank to 

 ensure a water temperature of nearly 65 U minimum 

 in spring and summer, never falling below 55, even 

 in the depth of winter. The temperature of the 

 house should never fall below tiO", one rather 

 higher at the minimum being even better. In 

 suitable weather ventilation must be given, and a 

 dry atmosphere avoided by the use of water on 

 the paths and a liberal syringing of the plants. 

 Even the hardy species outside are much benefited 

 by syringing the leaves. 



" Propagation., Aquatics are generally propagated 

 by division, for which the best time is early spring. 

 Many, however, are raised from seeds, which should 

 be sown in pots and sunk in shallow water. The 



How AuUATICS AKE GKOWX AT ilu. LEOPOLD DE KoTUSCHILl)'s, CiU.NNEBSUURV HoUSE, AcTON. 



5 



