232 MANUAL OF GARDENING 
spring. The roots are cleaned of decayed parts and covered 
with about 3 in. of soil. A foot or so of water is sufficient for 
lotus ponds. The roots of Egyptian lotus must not freeze. 
The roots of all water-lily-like plants should be frequently 
divided and renewed. 
With hardy aquatics, the water and roots are allowed to 
remain naturally over winter. In very cold climates, the pond 
is protected by throwing boards over it and covering with hay, 
straw, or evergreen boughs. It is well to supply an additional 
depth of water as a further protection. 
As a landscape feature, the pond should have a background, 
or setting, and its edges should be relieved, at least on sides and 
back, by plantings of bog plants. In permanent ponds of large 
size, plantings of willows, osiers, and other shrubbery may set 
off the area to advantage. Many of the wild marsh and pond 
plants are excellent for marginal plantings, as sedges, cat-tail, 
sweet-flag (there is a striped-leaved form), and some of the 
marsh grasses. Japanese iris makes an excellent effect in such 
places. For summer planting in or near ponds, caladium, 
umbrella-plant, and papyrus are good. 
If there is a stream, ‘‘branch,” or ‘‘run”’ through the place, it 
may often be made one of the most attractive parts of the 
premises by colonizing bog plants along it. 
Rockeries, and alpine plants. 
A rockery is a part of the place in which plants are grown in 
pockets between rocks. It is a flower-garden conception rather 
than a landscape feature, and therefore should be at one side 
or in the rear of the premises. Primarily, the object of using the 
rocks is to provide better conditions in which certain plants 
may grow; sometimes the rocks are employed to hold a springy 
or sloughing bank and the plants are used to cover the rocks; 
now and then a person wants a rock or a pile of stones in his 
yard, as another person would want a piece of statuary or a 
