880 THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



N. odorata. — A North American species of moderate growth, 

 with medium-sized, sweetly-scented, white flowers ; the sepals and 

 outer sepals on some plants are slightly tinged with pink.. To 

 thrive and blossom satisfactorily this species and its varieties 

 should be planted in the sunniest and most sheltered positions 

 that can be chosen. N. o. caroliniana is a very desirable 

 hybrid of American origin ; the flowers are large and of a soft 

 ■ pink or flesh colour. N. o. exquisita is a charming hybrid of 

 moderate growth, with fragrant ' flowers of medium size, deep 

 rose colour shaded with carmine, and stamens of a deep yellow. 

 N. o. minor is a very small and compact-growing variety, 

 having pure white and slightly fragrant flowers. N. o. rosacea 

 is one of the most desirable in this group, and somewhat 

 resembles i\^ o. exquisita in habit of growth, but is more robust; 

 the flowers, which are also fragrant, are of a rosy-pink colour, 

 with deep yellow stamens. N. o. rosea (Cape Cod Water Lily) 

 is similar in habit to the type ; the flowers are of a rosy-pink 

 and scented, 



N. pygmcea is a native of Central and Northern Asia, and is 

 the smallest species in cultivation. The flowers of this elegant 

 little Nymphaea are pure white and sweetly scented. N.p. helvola 

 is a small but exceedingly pretty hybrid, of which the preceding 

 species is one of the parents. The dainty little fragrant flowers, 

 which are freely produced, are of a pale primrose-yellow ; the 

 leaves are dark green, prettily spotted with reddish-brown. 



New and Rare Sorts.— The following, Nymphaeas are rare 

 and expensive at present. With the exception of N. alba rosea 

 they are all hybrids raised by M. Marliac, and include some of 

 the choicest and most beautiful kinds, as well as being vigorous 

 growers. N. alba rosea (N. Caspary),' commonly known as the 

 Swedish Water Lily, has small, pale rosy-pink flowers, which 

 appear very early in the season. Its flowering period is, how- 

 ever, a very brief one; and it is often at rest before some sorts have 

 commenced to blossom. It partakes but little of the character of 

 the type, or what is considered to be such, for, apart from being a 

 very shy blossomer, the plant is much less vigorous in habit, and 

 does not increase very rapidly. N. Andreana is a very free- 

 flowering hybrid, with medium-sized flowers of a deep red slightly 

 tinged with violet; it is of robust habit, and the leaves are 

 sparingly spotted with reddish-brown. N. aurora is a hybrid 

 of compact habit ; the flowers are _ of a clear yellow, sometimes 

 shaded with tints of rose. N. ElUsiana is an extremely beautiful 

 and free-flowering hybrid of good habit; the blossoms are of 

 a reddish-purple, shaded with carmine, and have bright orange- 

 coloured stamens. N. fulva is a free-flowering hybrid ; its 

 yellow blossoms are slightly tinged with red, and have 

 orange-coloured stamens; the leaves are spotted with reddish- 

 brown. N. gloriosa is a magnificent hybrid, having sweetly- 



