CULTURE OF WATER LILIES, ETC. 141 



Drosera Filiformis and D. Rotundifolia. Rare, curi- 

 ous, and hardy little bog plants, with pretty lilac and 

 white flowers. 



[Some of the Pitcher Plants, together with the Drosera 

 and Dioncea, are the plants claimed by Darwin as " insect- 

 eating plants," and on which he wrote a large volume to 

 prove that these plants caught and absorbed insects as 

 food. His belief has been severely questioned, and at 

 present writing the discussion is far from being settled. 

 My own experiments, which have been very elaborate, 

 have all gone to prove that Mr. Darwin's theory is an 

 error. P. H.] 



HARDY AQUATICS. 



The roots of the native American Water Lily will not 

 endure actual freezing, but still it is commonly called 

 hardy. When we speak of an aquatic as being hardy, we 

 do cot mean that it is so in the same sense that Pseonias 

 are, but that it will endure the winter when placed in 

 the water below the reach of frost. 



THE BEST TIME TO PLANT. The hardy Nymphaeas and 

 Nelumbiums should invariably be planted during spring 

 and early summer. It may be done up to the first of 

 August, but never in the fall, if it can be avoided. 



Nymphcea Odorata. The praises of our fragrant na- 

 tive Water Lily can never be too highly sung. Its lovely 

 white flowers are worthy of a place beside the most costly 

 exotics. It can be successfully grown in a tub, and 

 wintered in a cellar. It does well in one of the beds in 

 the Lily tank, but a more satisfactory way than either is 

 to naturalize it in a pond or slow-running stream. Do 

 not tie a stone to it and sink it, as many recommend, 

 but push it carefully into the mud with the hands or 

 feet. Where the mud is very rich, it will produce flow- 

 ers six inches and leaves thirteen inches across. 



