16 



WATER-LILY. 



The chaste purity and beauty of 

 our large white Water-Lilies, pictur- 

 ed on the lower half of this illustra- 

 tion, cannot be excelled and their 

 sweet fragrance in unequaled by 

 that of any other species. Although 

 the early Water-Lilies are picked in 

 great numbers and sold on the streets 

 of our cities at so much per bunch, 

 their period of bloom is so long and 

 so many seeds are set from each blos- 

 som that remains, that their numbers 

 do not decrease materially except in 

 very restricted areas. The floating 



leaves are large, four to twelve inches 

 across, attached to the rootstock by 

 very long, round, hollow stems. The flowers have four 

 greenish sepals, many waxy-white petals and a center of 

 many yellow stamens. They open early in the morning, re- 

 main open at least during sunshine and close at night. They 

 are fertilized chiefly by small flies and bees, many of which 

 are attracted by the fragrance and the conspicuous bloom. 



The joys of paddling a canoe along watery lanes dotted 

 with these magnificent flowers cannot be experienced by 

 everyone, but there is consolation in the fact that these 

 hardy Water-lilies can be successfully grown in our own 

 yards. Many residents in our cities have their lily ponds 

 or tubs on their lawns ; they are particularly desirable for 

 decorative purposes since they are in bloom from the first of 

 June until September and species of different shades, white, 

 pink, red and blue, can be secured. An added pleasure is 

 secured by introducing a few goldfish into the little pond, 

 both for appearance and to prevent the breeding of mos- 

 quitoes. 



The upper picture illustrates the Yellow Pond Lily or 

 Cow Lily, a species that grows abundantly in many ponds, 

 particularly in stagnant water. 



