THE WATER GARDEN 175 



through the unopened buds of those of the highest colour ; this is most 

 provoking. Again, as I have alluded to, the same bird will appropriate 

 the leaves of the individually small plants (these in most instances will 

 be the choicer kinds), and this, too, is annoying, as if the leaves of the 

 older varieties were not good enough for making their nests. Ducks 

 will dive and peck out the hearts of small plants very persistently, 

 while swans do a vast amount of injury in tearing off the leaves and 

 swimming through the separate plants. Water Lilies, other than the 

 common variety, cannot be grown as they should be where aquatic 

 birds, large or small, predominate. The vole or water-rat is also an 

 enemy to the crowns, and this rodent will do a lot of harm possibly 

 before he is detected. 



WATER LILIES IN TUBS 



Water Lilies add so much to the interest of a garden that 

 even the smallest place will be rendered more attractive if 

 one or two of these fascinating flowers can be cultivated. 

 This is not difficult, as by means of tubs, or even of zinc cans, 

 such as can be bought for a shilling or so, some of these 

 flowers can be accommodated, although not, of course, with 

 the fine effect produced in large tanks or ponds. Tubs can 

 be readily prepared, and are cheap to purchase. The most 

 convenient to secure are generally made from casks which 

 have been used for petroleum. Treacle casks are also suit- 

 able, but are not always so durable as the others, although 

 generally cheaper. Larger ones, such as those employed for 

 oil for factories, are excellent, especially for the larger 

 varieties. The casks should be cut in two, and a hole bored 

 in each near the bottom, so as to drain off the water if re- 

 quired. This should lead into a drain. It is not, however, 

 essential to have this hole, as the tubs can be emptied by 

 hand if required, and a change of water is not necessary, but 

 may be provided for by an overflow arrangement at the top, 

 conveying the surplus into a miniature bog garden or a 

 drain. The tubs should be tarred, pitched, or creosoted on 

 the outside for preservation, but this is not essential. The 

 interior should not be treated except by charring it, using a 

 little petroleum and a few shavings. Tarring inside is in- 

 jurious to the plants. The tubs ought to be sunk with the 

 rims level with, or even a little below, the ground level, and 

 their artificial appearance can be hidden by surrounding 

 them with rockwork, arranging the stones so that they will 

 form an irregular margin to the tubs. Another plan the 



