146 WATER-LILIES 



will take at least a month and many may not 

 germinate at all. The first sign of germina- 

 tion is the splitting of the brownish seed-coat 

 from which, shortly, the young root is pro- 

 truded. In a little while the first thread-like 

 leaf makes its appearance to be followed by a 

 similar one. The third leaf shows an indica- 

 tion of a blade, but is arrow-shaped. 



At this stage transplant the seedlings to 

 two-and-one-half to three inch pots, using a 

 heavy loam free from the admixture of sand 

 or leaf-mould, and keeping the plant under 

 water all the time. Repot when the first 

 floating leaf appears and keep on repotting 

 with larger sized pots or pans just as in the 

 case of the nymphaeas. Both species are 

 treated in the same way except that through- 

 out V. Cruziana requires a temperature 20° F. 

 lower. 



Even when 15-inch pans have been used 

 it will often happen that the roots become 

 too numerous for their receptacles and pro- 

 trude into the water. While this is no cause 

 for worry, it is better in such cases to use 



