70 BRECK’S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 
over with small pebbles, that the fish may be more dis- 
tinctly seen ; a few large shells will add to the interest 
of the pond. The most interesting aquatic plant of our 
country is the well known and universal favorite, the 
Nymphea odorata, the Water Lily. Its botanical 
name signifies “the Nymph or Naiad of the Streams.” 
Few plants possess more exquisite fragrance than the com- 
mon Water Lily. When floating upon the surface of the 
water, its open petals spread out to receive the genial 
rays of the sun; it is an object of great interest, and may 
be truly considered the embodiment of purity and love- 
liness. It is generally found in deep water, where its 
roots are secured from the frosts in the winter by a sort 
of natural hot-bed being thus provided for it. In my ex- 
perience, two feet of water is amply sufficient to protect 
it. The roots creep through the muddy bottom of ponds 
to a great extent. They are very rough, knotted, black- 
ish, and as large as a man’s arm, and difficult to extract 
from the bottom of deep water, but when taken up there 
is no more trouble. Tie stones to the roots, and throw 
them in to the part of the pond prepared for them, and 
they will soon establish themselves. There appears to be 
two common varieties, one with stout green stems, green 
calyx and white within, and the petals without any tint 
of pink or purple; the other has brown stems, more slen- 
der; flowers with brownish green calyx and pinkish white 
within, the outer petals tinged with red on the under 
side. While I resided in Lancaster, Mass., I found a 
beautiful variety, in a corner of a pond in that town, with 
pink petals, which I transferred to a small pond in my 
garden, where it flourished until I left the place. The pond 
was afterward drained, and I suppose the root was destroy- 
ed. Mr. Wm. E. Carter, formerly of the Botanic Garden, 
Cambridge, procured from the same pond a root which 
flourished many years in the aquarium there, but in clear- 
