334 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 443. 



Lilium Henryi. — While a considerable number of species 

 of Lilium have suffered more or less severely from the ex- 

 cessive heat and drought recently experienced here, Lilium 

 Henryi has, on the contrary, exceeded in growth and vigor 

 all previous experiences. I am inclined to believe that 

 sunstroke is the cause of the sudden collapse of fat healthy 

 stems of L. auratum, probably also of L. pardalinum and 

 others, almost a failure here this year. But L. Henryi is 

 now nine feet high, with healthy green leaves down to the 

 base and a score or more of orange-yellow flowers and 

 buds. It has not gone back in health in the slightest since 

 its first introduction from China, some eight years ago, 

 although it has been left in beds in the open without dis- 

 turbance. It seeds freely and the seeds germinate readily. 

 A solitary plant of it is not effective, but a quantity grow- 

 ing together, as, for instance, in the case of L. pardalinum, 

 make a stately picture. I might mention here that I saw 

 in the nursery of Messrs. F. Sander & Co. the other day a 

 large healthy batch of the rare L Philippinense, one of the 

 most elegant of the Longiflorum group. It requires green- 

 house culture in this country. 



Marliac's Water Lilies. — The exceptional length and 

 heat of the summer we are now experiencing — it began in 

 April, and so far has been almost tropical — has favored 

 some plants, and particularly the hardy Nymphaeas, which 

 in some gardens have flowered freely as well as grown 

 luxuriantly. The new red-flowered varieties have improved 

 under its influence, or, rather, I should say, their good 

 qualities have revealed themselves so clearly that they are 

 sure to find general favor as hardy aquatics. They do not 

 grow so vigorously as the common Nymphaeas, except, 

 perhaps, that called Marliacea chromatella, which appears 

 to be by far the freest grower ; they are, therefore, plants 

 that must have special care and be kept in positions where 

 they are easily seen and got at. Some who have tried them 

 in lakes or large expanses of water have for this reason 

 decided to remove them into tubs or small tanks. When 

 seen at close quarters they are most beautiful. I know no 

 flowers that grow in water in the open air in this country 

 with colors so charming as those of the varieties called 

 Robinsoni, ignea, fulva and odorata rosea or exquisita. 

 The best forms of Laydekeri are also first-rate. 



Limnanthemum peltatum., better known, perhaps, by the 

 name of Villarsia nymphseoides, is a most charming 

 aquatic Gentian with floating leaves exactly like those of a 

 Nymphaea and numerous erect-stalked bright yellow flow- 

 ers. It is a native of the British Islands as well as various 

 parts of Europe. In England, perhaps, the only locality 

 for it is in various reaches of the Thames. It is abundant 

 in a backwater separating the old deer park at Richmond 

 from Kew Gardens, and it is also a conspicuous object in 

 the lake in the latter establishment. If not already intro- 

 duced into the United States, it is worthy of introduction, 

 which may be possible either by seeds or rhizomes. No 

 plant makes a more delightful picture on the water than 

 this, which is in flower from June to August. It has lately 

 attracted the attention of Mr. Grant Allen, who has con- 

 tributed an interesting article upon it to the Daily Neivs. 

 Last year a pretty plate of it, prepared by Mr. Moon, was 

 published in The Garden. Mr. Allen aptly likened the 

 flowers to those of a Melon or Cucumber, but they are 

 much more elegant in outline and delicate in texture, while 

 the fringe of hairs surrounding the stamens adds a special 

 charm. [This plant is common in aquatic gardens here, 

 where it becomes almost a weed which it is difficult to 

 exterminate. — Ed.] 



Bedding Violas, or Tufted Pansies, as some prefer to call 

 them, have increased rapidly in popularity during the last 

 ten years. This is the result of considerable improvements 

 made by breeders in the constitution of the plants and in 

 the colors of the flowers. In all good gardens they are 

 now largely used for spring and summer bedding. They 

 succeed where the larger-flowered Pansy fails, and they 

 make a perpetual display for several months. They have 

 become so important that a society has been formed in 



their interests, and next week a conference will be devoted 

 to them in Regents Park, when papers will be read by their 

 votaries and the results of a trial of seedlings be made 

 known. An exhibition of the plants and flowers will be 

 held at the same time. This year has, perhaps, been one 

 of the most unfavorable for these Violas. They have not 

 been a success at Kew, notwithstanding liberal supplies of 

 water during the hot dry weather. In gardens where the 

 soil is colder and less gravelly than at Kew they have done 

 better. They are most useful for early summer effects, and 

 as they are easily kept from year to year and as readily 

 multiplied as Verbenas they are sure to remain in favor. 



London. W. WalsOll. 



Cultural Department. 



Water-lilies from Seed. 



THERE is always a fascination in raising plants from seeds. 

 It requires some mentalexertion and moreor less patience, 

 for while some seeds take but a few days to germinate, others 

 require several months, and Water-lilies are among the uncer- 

 tain plants. Naturally, seed is sown when thoroughly ripe, 

 but the conditions are not favorable for immediate germina- 

 tion in all instances, and they lie dormant until the proper 

 season or conditions for growth arrive. In the case of Water- 

 lilies (Nymphaea), both hardy and tender, the seed, if ripened 

 early in August and self-sown, will germinate in a few days. 

 Seeds of the Zanzibar type can hardly be kept until they can 

 be cleaned before they germinate ; but later on if the seed is 

 sown naturally and deposited in the tank or pond where it has 

 grown it will lie dormant all winter, germinate early in spring 

 and produce flowering plants the same season. Thus, in New 

 Jersey, Zanzibar Lilies may be grown as a hardy annual. 



As to the vitality of the seeds of aquatic plants much depends 

 on their condition, the temperature, etc., when they are stored. 

 Nature suggests that aquatic seeds should be sown as soon as 

 ripe, or deposited in humid surroundings for safe-keeping. 

 In some instances this is an inviolable law, many species 

 refusing to grow if allowed to become dry and remain so for 

 but a short period. This is true of Victoria seed, Euryale, 

 Nymphaea gigantea, and almost all of the hardy Nymphaeas, 

 Sagittarias and others. This is the season for ripening Nym- 

 phaea and other seed, and persons desirous of experimenting 

 with Water-lilies in the way of raising seedlings will do well to 

 note these suggestions. Seeds of all varieties of hardy Nym- 

 phaeas should be sown now, and the earlier they are sown the 

 larger the percentage that will germinate. If seed cannot be 

 secured before fall it may be sown then, but if left until next 

 spring the percentage to germinate will be small, indeed, and 

 with some varieties (unless extra care is taken in keeping them 

 over winter) not a seed will grow. In natural ponds, where 

 the seed is deposited during the latter part of this month, it 

 remains dormant until spring, when with lengthening days 

 and increasing temperature the seed readily starts and grows 

 rapidly. Nature should be followed as closely as possible 

 where artificial means must be adopted. Where only a few 

 varieties are grown the seed may be sown in four-inch pots or 

 in shallow pans, using fine soil similar to that used for other 

 flower seeds, and covering the soil with fine sand after the 

 seed is sown. The pots should then be stood in water, not 

 submerged at once, but thoroughly saturated. They should 

 remain in this condition for two days and then be submerged. 

 If seed pans are used the seed may be sown thinly and remain 

 undisturbed should they germinate before spring. The pans 

 are always handy to move. If the seed is sown in pots a shal- 

 low tub or tank is most convenient to keep them in. To 

 secure them against being upset, an ordinary tub may be filled 

 two-thirds with ordinary soil. The pots should be plunged to the 

 level of the soil and kept filled with water. The tub may remain 

 out-of-doors in the open sunshine until fall, when, with its 

 contents, it should be stored in a cold house or cellar until 

 spring. But if the seedlings appear during autumn they 

 should be kept growing in congenial quarters. Seeds may 

 also be sown in a tub filled two-thirds with good soil, and the 

 seeds covered with sand. They should be protected from 

 freezing in winter and in spring, and placed out-of-doors 

 again. The seed comes up readily and the plants may be set 

 in permanent quarters without the trouble of pricking off, and 

 will produce flowers the same season. Seeds of the Zanzibar- 

 ensis type, if sown now thinly in pans, as already recom- 

 mended for hardy varieties, will make nice plants this fall and 

 may be held over till spring, when they will become good 

 plants early in the season. _ 



Riverton, N.J. W. Tricker. 



