August, 1907 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



The Egyptian Lotus Successfully Grown in New Jersey 



an ordinary teacup, and is filled with seeds in separate cells. 

 It has been found that aquatics given the same conditions 

 as our native water lilies will grow profusely, and give more 

 pleasure than any other plants. 



For those who have no natural or artificial basins, several 

 varieties can be grown in tubs, or half barrels, set down in 

 the earth. The results are especially attractive and effective 

 where the spaces between the tubs are filled with stones and 

 earth, and sedges, ferns and other marsh-loving plants, hardy 

 ornamental grasses, clumps of bamboo and hardy herbaceous 

 plants are set among the rocks, taking care they do not over- 

 shadow the water plants. The sweet alyssum, called "carpet 

 of snow," is a beautiful plant to surround the tubs. All of 

 the Nelumbia and the hardy Nymphaeas can be well grown 

 in half tubs. 



The best soil is from the rotted vegetable matter from 

 ponds and swamps. The best substitute for this is heavy 

 garden loam mixed with compost. Place six inches of earth 

 in each tub; plant but one or two roots in each, scatter one 

 inch of sandy gravel over them : then fill the tubs with six 

 inches of water, avoiding the displacement of the sand. As 

 all water lilies prefer still, warm water, it is a mistake to 

 have any fountain or continuous inflow, and even in natural 

 ponds a large inflow of cold spring water affects the growth 

 harmfully. In the smaller artificial ponds or tanks the 

 best method is to replace the water by a 

 hose, in the late afternoon or evening, syr- 

 inging the plants at the same time, thereby 

 keeping in check the green and black fly. 



Mr. William Macfarland, superinten- 

 dent of schools In Bordentown, N. J., de- 

 votes much attention to the cultivation of 

 plants, and Is a writer on such subjects. He 

 has, in his yard, a three-by-five feet water 

 garden, flanked, next the garden path, by 

 Japanese iris, such as Onoto Watanna says 

 make a purple world of Japan. 



The walls and bottom of the basin are 

 of single brick set in cement, and covered 

 by cement to prevent leakage. A garden 

 hose is used to fill it. The plants in it are 

 hardy water lilies, a Cape Cod pink, or 

 Nymphaea odorata, var. rosea, of a de- 

 lightful scent, and a yellow Nymphaea 

 7narliacea, var. chromatilla, with spotted 

 leaves. A water hyacinth, with its floating 

 foliage, suspended roots, and brilliant blue 

 flowers assists in the purification of the wa- 

 ter. The hyacinth is tropical, and needs to 

 be removed to the house in winter. It 

 grows well In a jardiniere, with some earth 



and water, and should be kept always in 

 the sun. The water In the lily basin is never 

 changed except by overflow In rains and by 

 evaporation, and the plants have not been 

 disturbed for five years. 'J'here are a few 

 goldfish In the pond. In early June they 

 deposit their eggs on the roots of the water 

 hyacinth. If left in the basin, the gold fish 

 cat the eggs, so they are removed, for 

 hatching purposes, to a tub of water hold- 

 ing the hyacinth. The water In the basin 

 is very pure, and the choice fish put in It five 

 years ago are still flourishing. It is advis- 

 able to place fish in ponds and tanks, for the 

 benefit of the water, and to prevent mos- 

 quito breeding. An occasional frog finds 

 its way to this Bordentown water garden. 

 In cold weather the water is lowered 

 eight Inches by dipping it out, and a cold frame Is put on. In 

 hard winter additional covering of leaves or straw is put 

 around the wall and boards over the cold frame. 



On Chestnut Street, in Salem, Mass., Mr. Philip Little 

 has a dainty lily pond as an addition to a lovely garden. The 

 method used in constructing a cement basin of this type is 

 to pound the bottom and sides of the excavation till they are 

 firm ; then cover the whole with a layer of six inches of 

 puddled clay, pounding It with wooden mauls to bring it to 

 a 'solid wall. After this the sides should be covered with 

 rough stones, and a thin layer of concrete added. The top 

 of the wall should be plastered with cement. A depth of 

 two feet Is about the right dimension. This cemented pond 

 of Mr. Little's Is double in construction, like a figure eight. 

 The flowers are of all the vari-colored Nymphaea. 



Another very beautiful water garden Is owned by Judge 

 C. E. Hoitt, of Nashua, N. H. This Is situated on Judge 

 Hoitt's country estate, a mile and a half from Nashua. The 

 lily pond is a cement basin, semi-circular, set in a hollow at 

 the base of a rise of ground, on the path to the lodge and 

 reading-room. In the basin are grown Neluvibiiim specio- 

 siDii (the Egyptian lotus), and different varieties of Nym- 

 phaea. Japanese rice is planted about the basin and in it, 

 and Japanese iris and banana plants skirt it. This garden is 

 so beautiful that the daughter of a former governor of New 



The 



Plants Have Been Growing for Five Years in this Basin Without 

 Change or Removal 



