138 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



mens. AH around the edge of the pond, between the 

 mounds and the turf, is a narrow space of shallow 

 water, which forms a neat margin and a, very con- 

 venient place for small floating aquatics— as, for in- 

 stance, Azolla— during summer. At the further end 

 of the pond, heyond the belt of grass, is a bed of peat, 

 kept constantly moist by pipes, In this bed Sarra- 

 eenias, Pamassias, and Pinguiculas appear to flourish 

 well, but it has not been long established. Behind 

 against the bank, tree-stumps have been laid, and the 

 spaces filled in with peat, which receives a certain 

 amount of moisture by absorption from the wet 

 below. Here at last is a position where Ourisia takes 

 care of itseH. Soldanellas grow well, and some 

 Primulas make surprising growth. Tree-stumps are 

 not generally advisable for the immediate neighbour- 

 hood of choice plants ; but there are some— as, for 

 instance, MUehella repens— winch flourish in rotten 

 debris, and this is an especial adaptation. Inside the 

 gate is a bed of Equisetums, which grow strongly in 

 the moist soil, but are prevented from interlacing by 

 slate partitions. Against the fence on the inside is a 

 border where Bamboos and Spira3as flourish, also 

 because of the moist position. There is also a marsh 

 bed where Orchis latifolia is established, and other 

 fen plants are quite at home. This garden is sur- 

 rounded by a bank, high at the farther end, sloping 

 down to the ends in front. The washing down of 

 soil from the mounds has not been troublesome, as 

 the roots of the plants generally keep it up, but after 

 four years it was found necessary to mend in some 

 places. It may be remarked that the inlet and outlet 

 are close together. This was unavoidable, on ac- 

 count of the banks, but has not been attended by 

 any inconvenience. Conferva at first was trouble- 

 some, but a few fish — two carp and about forty silver 



dace were put in as an experiment, and since then 



the water has been perfectly clear. 



In the Botanic Garden at St. Petersburg is a very 

 natural and satisfactory bog-garden. It is formed 

 in a long narrow dell, prettily over-arched here 

 and there by Birch and other trees. At one end is a 

 series of wet beds, divided by slightly-raised paths. 

 The water percolates from one end to the other, and 

 ponds are formed for submerged and floating aquatics. 

 Rustic bridges of Birch with the natural bark cross at 

 intervals, and have an ornamental appearance. This 

 garden may have been formed from a broad ditch, 

 and it suggests a u,seful adaptation. 



Lastly, we have to mention the cheapest method of 

 culture, and one that may be adopted when there is 

 a small supply of water, or Avheu there is no possi- 

 bility of making a pond or bog. We have our ex- 

 ample from the Rev. H. T. EUacombe, of Topsham, 

 who, with little convenience, has made a speciality of 

 these plants. He grows the.n in tubs, made by cut- 



ting a wine-cask in two. Paraffin-casks are very- 

 cheap, and they answer perfectly. It is safest to- 

 bum them out with a wisp of straw, though it does- 

 not seem to be absolutely necessary to do so. The 

 manner of planting need scarcely be described. The 

 depth of water for Nymphaeas and Nuphars need not 

 be great, as the leaves will rise above the surface in- 

 stead of floating upon it. There are other good bog- 

 gardens, for the description of which we have no 

 space, but the methods of culture adopted aie similar 

 to those we have mentioned. 



A caution is not unnecessary with regard to the 

 introduction of plants that would become weeds, and 

 prove difficult to eradicate. 



Polygonum amphibium is an extremely pretty plant, 

 with rosy spikes of flowers, but it spreads extensively, 

 and should only be grown where it can be effectually 

 confined. It will grow in water two feet deep, and 

 upon the driest ground. 



Anacharis Alsinastrum, or Water-thyme, the 

 American weed, that has spread over the country in 

 streams and ditches, should be omitted. 



Fotamogeton lucens has proved difficult of eradica- 

 tion, and other kinds may be equally troublesome. 



Glyceria. aquatica is scarcely ornamental, and as it 

 spreads rapidly, should only be tolerated under the 

 roughest circumstances. 



Water-lilies and Typhas, indeed everything that 

 grows stronglj-, should be kept within bounds imme- 

 diately they have reached the desired extension. The 

 best way is to lower the water and dig them out. 



In giving a list of plants, it will be convenient tO' 

 group them into two divisions : the first consisting 

 of plants that require ponds, aquaria, or actual water 

 surface to grow in; the second comprising those 

 plants which thrive in bog or marshy ground. 

 Nearly all which will be given have been success- 

 fully grown in the Cambridge collection. 



OUT-BOOR AiiUATIC PLANTS. 

 Aponogeton distachgon (the Cape Pond- weed). — So 

 beautiful and curious as this plant is, possessing 

 withal a delightful fragrance, it has a most indispu- 

 table claim to the praise it so often receives. It has 

 a perennial root-stock, from which a number of 

 floating oblong leaves arise, and among them nume- 

 rous fiower-stems, bearing a forked inflorescence. 

 The flowers themselves are inconspicuous, but they 

 have black anthers, and these contrast with the 

 charming white bracts, which are ranged in two 

 rows on each fork. It has the advantage of flowering 

 in winter, and during mild weather is continually in 

 flower. It has nowhere flourished better than in the 

 water from an artesian well in Mr. Parker's nursery, 

 but it is perfectly hardy, and is safe in water about 



