904 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



As tropical Nymphaeas may be definitely classed in two 

 divisions — namely, those displaying their flowers by day, and 



others that do so by night 

 — the best effect will be 

 secured if they are planted 

 alternately, so as to have 

 them equally distributed 

 over the tank, with due 

 regard to the distribution 

 of their colours. The Lotus 

 and the stellata section 

 form two distinct groups of 

 Water Lilies, the former 

 embracing colours ranging 

 from white to deep red, and 

 the latter from pale to deep 

 blue. As soon as the boxes 

 are planted, the tank should 

 be filled with water. By 

 turning the heat fully on 

 in the hot-water pipes, the 

 water will be warmed as it 

 gradually rises. This will 

 not in any way interfere 

 with the planting at the 

 sides, as the plants situated 

 there, excepting the floating 

 ones, will be in beds or in 

 pots resting on shelves or 

 brick columns, provided for 

 those which only require a 

 shallow depth of water 

 above the surface of the 

 soil. Tall and vigorous- 

 growing Aquatics, such as 

 Cyperus Papyrus^ Thalia 

 dealbata (Fig. 603), and 

 Sagittaria montevideiisis^ 

 should be planted in beds, 

 to form good bold clumps, 

 and any old or superfluous 

 growth should be cut away 

 before planting : this should 

 be done firmly, leaving the 

 Fig. 603. — Thalia dealbata. crowns just above the top 



of the soil. The smaller- 

 growing kinds should be accommodated in pots at the sides with 

 the surface of the soil just submerged. 



