ALL water, whether it he a lake, stream, pond, or even a small pool, seems to hold a certain charm for everyone, and, when 

 this \v ter is inhaliited and beautified by aquatic plants and fish, it becomes fascinating, and when we consider the ease with 

 which these plants can be grown, there is no reason why every natural lake, pond and stream having the proper conditions, 

 which are sunshine, still, warm water, and plenty of rich soil, should not be so beautified. Where stagnant jiools exist, it becomes 

 a hygienic necessity to stock same with plants a-d fish, for, when properly balanced with plant and animal life, the water becomes, 

 and will remain, pure and sweet, and in place of a mosquito and malaria-breeding pool we have a health lul and delightful aquatic 

 garden. 



A FEW CULTURAL. HINTS ON ^WATER I.II.IES. 



Comjih'le cultnial divictiotiS 



The best soil for growing all aquatics is the rotted vegetable 

 matter from ponds or swamps, mixed with one-third well-rotted 

 manure, and the best substitute for same is good, heavy loam 

 enriched with one-third well-decayed cow manure. All flower- 

 in;j aqualici should be planted so that they will be exposed to 

 full sunlight. 



In constructing artificial ponds a total depth of two feet is 

 sufficient; one fout for soil and one foot for water. 



For those who have not the advantage of natural ponds or 

 large artificial basin, there are many varieties wliich can be 

 grown successfully in half-barrels or any water-tight receptacle 

 having a diameter of two feet or more, but the greater the sur- 

 face space the better will be the results. 



Many of the Nymphseas and other equities, and all of the 

 Nelurabiums, can be successfully grown in half-barrels. To do 

 this, fill the tubs half full with aquatic soil, top-dressed with two 

 inches of sand, allowing about six inches for water. Sink the tubs 

 in tlie ground to within three inches of the top. When more than 

 one tub is used a very ornamental effect can be i)roduced by leav 

 ing a space between the tubs to be used as a miniature rock 

 garden. 



As all Water Lilies and more especially the tender varieties, 

 prefer still, warm water, it is a mistake to have any fountain or 

 other continuous inflow of water in connection with artificial 

 ponds or tank-;, and in natural ponds, when such are fed with a 

 larg;e inflow of cold spring water, Lilies will not be a success. 



For artificial ponds and tanks it is best only to give enough 

 fresh water to replace what is lost by evaporation, etc. 



Hardy Nymphaeas can be planted at any time from April to 

 September. The best results, however, will be obtained if the 

 planting is done just as they start into growth, which in the 

 vicinity of Philadelphia is about May 1st. 



Tender Nyrnphaeas will grow and luxuriate under the same 

 conditions as the Hardy Nymphseas, but the more sheltered and 

 warmer the location the better will be the results. 



Tende-.- Nymphaeas should not be planted until after the weather 

 (236) 



vill he mnt on appUcntioii. 



has become warm and settled, or at about the same time that such 

 tender plants as Coleus, etc., are planted in the border. 



Hardy Nymphaeas and Nelumbiums need no care during the 

 winter, ])rovided the water is of sufficient depth so that it will 

 not freeze to the crown of the plants. In cement tanks drain 

 off all the water and fill in with leaves or cover with boards and 

 leaves or litter. If grown in tubs or boxes the plants should 

 receive a top dressing of bone meal at the rate of one pound to 

 each ]ilant, just as growth starts in sjiring. It should be dis- 

 tributed evenly over the surface of the soil, and a little sand or 

 fine soil spread over all to keep it from floating away. Lilies 

 which are grown in beds of soil or in natural ponds will be 

 much benefited by an application in spring of Dried Blood ma- 

 nure, broadcasted on the surface of the water at the rate of 

 one pound to every ten square feet of surface. Tender Nymphoeas 

 require to be wintered in tubs or tanks in a greenhouse where a 

 temperature of 00° is maintained. As strong plants are quite 

 troublesome to winter, even under favorable conditions, we advise 

 to leave them out and get new jilants each season. 



Nelumbiums are supplied in tubers, and should not be planted 

 before May 1st. The treatment is the same as recommended 

 for hardy Nymphjeas, excei)ting that they do best when planted 

 in mud or soil that is at least two feet deep and covered only 

 with six inches of water. 



All tanks, ponds or lakes should have submerged plant's grow- 

 ing in them to aerify the water, thereby kee|)ing it pure and 

 sweet. The best plants for this purpose are Anacharis canaden- 

 sis gigantea, Cabomba viridifolia, Sagittaria nalans and \'a!lis- 

 neria spiralis. These can be planted in water from six inches to 

 two feet deep. 



Fish should be in all ponds, from the smallest tub to the 

 largest lake, as they will destroy all mosquito larvae and other 

 insects. In lily ponds gold fish are preferable, being both use- 

 ful and ornamental. A tub should have two fish in it, and 

 twenty-five fish will be sufficient to stock a pond one hundred 

 feet in diameter. 



