114 WATER-LILIES 



flower is an embodiment of grace and dig- 

 nity. The leaves are large, a little more 

 oval than round, dark green above, but deep 

 Tyrian purple beneath. The margins are 

 very evenly scalloped, each wave ending in 

 a sharp tooth. The plant is separated from 

 all others of its kind, by several botanical 

 diff"erences, the most notable of which is 

 that there are no gradations from petals to 

 stamens. 



Nymphaa gigantea is the most difficult of 

 the day bloomers to cultivate. It can hardly 

 be grown at Philadelphia without artificial 

 heat. If you wish to grow it, get a large 

 plant, and have it shipped in the pot or 

 basket in which it was grown. Set it out 

 two weeks later than the other tender kinds, 

 and hope for warm weather at the time of its 

 arrival. Place it in the tank with the 

 utmost care. 



Any check in its growth is likely to cause it 

 to stop growing, and drop its leaves; and it 

 can only be coaxed into growth in warm water 

 after a rest, too late for the current season's 



