34 On the Management of Aquatic Plants. 



I have a large cistern, 2 feet deep, formed, by divisions, into 

 compartments, from one to two feet square, which are partly 

 filled with mould, to different heights, according to the nature 

 and habit of the plants. Every spring, the mould in the 

 boxes, pots, and cistern is changed, and when the roots have 

 filled any of them, they are divided : a strong rich loam, in 

 general, suits best for all this tribe of plants. 



Menyanthes Indica, Nymph&a Lotus, pubescens, rubra, 

 rubra var. rosea, versicolor, ccerulea, and stellata, also Eury- 

 aleferox y which are tender, I find thrive best in a close heat. 

 The first needs only to be fresh potted, and placed in the 

 frame, where it will grow, and flower the whole summer. In 

 order to prepare the Nymphceas, the pots, in which they have 

 been kept through the winter, are placed, early in April, in 

 small wooden cisterns, 2 feet long, 14 inches wide, and 6 

 inches deep ; and removed from the stove into any cucumber, 

 or melon frames, which may be in use. In about a fortnight, 

 or three weeks, a number of offsets, or runners, will be 

 thrown from the bulbs. These are then separated, and put 

 into small pots ; and in the course of ten or twelve days, a 

 strong plant of each species is selected, and placed in the 

 cisterns, for flowering. 



The tender aquatics, especially the Nymphceas, I grow in 

 a brick three-light frame, 13 feet long, and 6 feet broad; 

 inside depth, at back, 5 feet, and above the ground, 4 feet : 

 which is filled with tan. I have four wooden cisterns, lined 

 with lead, 4 feet long, 2 feet 6 inches wide, and 15 inches 

 deep : these are plunged in the tan, and filled with strong 

 rich loam, about 6 inches deep, the bottom part of which is 

 rammed down ; and the plants placed in them, one or two 



