ON AQUATIC PLANTS, 903 



of well-seasoned iin. elm boards, as this wood is very durable 

 when submerged in water. 



Culture. — The Nymphcea family is represented by so many 

 species and varieties of decided merit that they should occupy 

 a great portion of the tank ; therefore, it will be best to treat 

 upon their culture first. From their habit of growth it is 

 necessary that they should occupy the central part of the tank, 

 the tubs or pots when in position being about 5ft. apart, and 

 arranged alternately, so as to utilise all available surface space 

 for the foliage. For Nymphseas to display their greatest beauty, 

 in respect of both size and colour of their flowers, when under 

 artificial treatment, they must have a good rich compost; and, 

 unless this is afforded them, it is only courting disappoint- 

 ment to attempt their cultivation. If our common Water Lily 

 {N. alba) when growing in a wild, state furnishes any criterion, it 

 will be found that it thrives most luxuriantly where the natural 

 bed of the river or pond is of a clayey description, or where 

 there is a deposit of accumulated mud, enriched with decomposed 

 vegetable and other matter, in which its thick, fleshy roots can 

 become deeply embedded. This suggests that efforts should be 

 made when cultivating it artificially to provide a soil which 

 the action of the water will reduce to a somewhat similar state. 

 To accomplish this a compost should be prepared consisting 

 of good, rich, heavy loam, containing an admixture of 

 clay, and to this should be added a good proportion of well- 

 decomposed cow or stable manure as well as a small quantity 

 of leaf-soil, but the last-named is not absolutely necessary. If it 

 is convenient to procure the loam from an old pasture, the top 

 spit should be selected, and this should be stacked for about 

 twelve months, so as to destroy all live vegetation ; it will then 

 be in a better condition for use. When preparing the compost 

 the loam should be chopped up fairly coarse, and to every three 

 parts of this should be added one part of -the cow or horse 

 manure — the former for preference. This, when well incorporated, 

 will form a compost of a tenacious nature, suited to the wants 

 of the plants. The soil should be placed in the house for a few 

 days previous to its being, required, so that it may get moderately 

 warmed before being used. 



When filling the tubs and planting, the soil should be pressed 

 firmly down and around the plants or tubers to within 3m. of 

 the top, which should be surfaced with about iin. of sand, to 

 prevent^(as far as possible) the manure in the soil from rising 

 and discolouring the water. If the tubs or pots are filled too 

 full, the action of the water causes the soil to swell and run 

 over the sides ; allowances must therefore be made for this 

 contingency. When the water in the tank is at its normal height, 

 a depth of from ioin. to 12m. above the crown of the plants 

 will be found sufficient. 



