l62 WATER-LILIES 



character they resemble canna leaves, but 

 they are borne on long stalks two feet above 

 the water. The insignificant flowers come 

 in open panicles on tall wand-like stems. 

 The plant has a loose, easy, picturesque 

 appearance. It grows about six feet tall, 

 and will flourish well in a tub the size of a 

 half barrel. It is wintered in a warm tank, 

 or, half dry, in a cool house. 



THE WATER HYACINTHS 



Of the plants necessary for the water 

 garden, I should place next to the lotus the 

 water hyacinth {Eichhornia speciosa). It 

 makes dense beds of dark green foliage from 

 which project large spikes of rich violet 

 flowers. The plant floats freely on the 

 surface of the water, or the roots will gladly 

 catch in the mud. It will sometimes do 

 equally well in one inch or in two feet of water. 

 The leaves are from three to five inches in 

 diameter, on stalks two to eight inches tall. 

 The floating plants keep themselves up by 



