140 HOW TO PLAN THE HOME GROUNDS 



lotuses and water-lilies, for there are curious water-hya- 

 cinths of the pontederia family — a floating plant, with 

 swollen leaf stalks and blue flowers, looking like an 

 orchid; and the water-poppy, limnocharis humboldtii, 

 with round, bright-green floating leaves, and solitary 

 large sulphur flowers with three petals ; and, finally, the 

 water-hawthorn, with flowers in white, short spikes, 

 which should be treated like the water-poppies. Then 

 there is the water-anemone, ranunculus aquatica; and 

 pitcher-plants, sarracenia purpurea; and arrow-heads, 

 sagittaria sagittif olia ; and the floating water-plantain, 

 with white flowers borne on long-stalked, small, elliptical 

 leaves ; and on a little drier ground, irises, and one or two 

 orchids, such as cypripediums ; and, finally, the excellent 

 yellow flag, iris pseudacorus, already mentioned. 



In closing these few, and quite inadequate, remarks 

 on aquatic plants, the author desires to point out that 

 natural and quiet pools or streams seem to suit them 

 best, although a fountain basin is well fitted for the 

 same purpose, where a small drip of water or moderate 

 spray disturbs but little the surface. Rock-bordered 

 cemented pools for aquatics hardly ever look quite suc- 

 cessful, whereas a drink-hole for cows in the meadow 

 may support pond-lilies for years with the most charm- 

 ing and appropriate effect. 



