CHAPTER VII 



The Hardy Water-lilies 



If one water-lily only can be selected for 

 such a small effort as a two foot square pool, 

 such for instance as might be provided by 

 a half kerosene barrel, the little Chinese 

 pigmy water-lily, NympUcea tetragona, will 

 be the most satisfactory, because it will 

 quickly cover the water with its small 

 horseshoe-shaped leaves. These are dark 

 green, with faint and picturesque brown 

 blotches on the upper surface, dull red 

 beneath, and the combination is rich in colour. 

 Then again, it is a good plant for flowering — 

 a good specimen will keep up a continuous 

 succession of its little star-like flowers through- 

 out the season, from June to September. 

 Often two or three flowers will be open at 

 once. The eight or ten snowy petals sur- 

 round a group of stout golden stamens, and 

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