280 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



April 6, 1912. 



THE FINEST WATER-LILIES, 



In treating upon this subject, I only 

 propose to deal with the hardy kinds, and 

 will leave the tender ones for future con- 

 sideration. 



It is some few years now since the first 

 of the newer race of hardy hybrid water- 

 lilies made an appearance upon our lakes 

 and ponds in thus country, thanks mainly 

 to the indefatigable efforts of the late M. B. 

 Latour-Marliac, who, after many years of 

 most persevering efforts, was successful in 

 raising those well-known varieties that 

 have become so popular. It is only a 

 reasonable expectation, when we survey the 

 past, to look for newer varieties at the pre- 

 sent time. There has been a very steady 

 improvenuMit, even from the first ; but dur- 

 ing the past t"e\v years a distinct advance 

 has been marh*. This has been a])])arent in 



size. 



whites. I shall not be surprised this season Mrs. Richmond a very much finer flower of 



the same distinctive colouring and features 

 N. Newton, a new lily^ has in its flowers 

 something of the character of N. stellata. 

 In colour it is of a rosy-pink shade, and 

 when seen upon the water could be easily 

 recognised, being so very distinct. This 

 too, has a good future before it. 



N. colossea is well described in its name 

 as regards it-s size. It comes nearest to 5. 

 Marliacea rosea in other respects, and is 

 quite a feature upon the water here. The 

 flowers stand well above the foliage; hence 

 they show to the best advantage. It con- 

 tinues a long time in flower, being one of 

 the earliest and one of the latest to perfect 

 its blossoms. 



Yellow Varieties. 



In this colour the best novelty, in my 

 opinion^ is N. Mooreana ; it is somewhat 



virginalis does not surpass these m 

 It has flowered here now for two 

 seasons, and last year it improved greatly. 

 It is one that will be suited to somewhat 

 deeper water than many, and this is in- 

 dicated by the length of the petioles, or 

 leaf-stalks. In M. Latour-Marliac's cata- 

 logue it is described as being both early 

 and late in flowering, as well as being 

 sweetly scented; this latter feature is in 



its favour. 



N. Caroliniana nivea is another variety 

 of the purest possible white. It belongs to 

 the odorata section, being only of medium 

 vigour and growth. Each flower has a 

 multiplicity of petals, somewhat narrow, 

 which suggests its affinity to the section 

 alluded to. It is a most suitable variety 

 for shallow water or for fountains. 



N. Gladstoniana is, I believe, an Ameri- 



I - 



SMALL WATER-LILY POOL AT KEW 



at least two ways. The newer water-lilies 

 are, on the whole, more floriferous than the 

 earlier ones w^ere ; while we have now seve- 

 ral novelties in point of colour. In size, 

 also, there has been an advance, notably 

 during the past season or two. I have 

 often been applied to for information as 

 to the best kinds to grow. J'or the benefit 

 of the readers of the Gardeners' Magazine 

 I now give a list of the best up-to-<late 

 ^-arieties that have come undei' my obser- 

 vation during the past few years. 



White Varieties. 



There are at least three under this head 

 that stand out prominently as most desir- 

 able ones to grow. 



Xyniphoea virginalis, one of M. Latour- 

 Marliac's later seedlings, is, in my opinion, 

 tlie purest white yet raised. The individual 

 How*Ms are of the largest size; bv this I 

 mean thev 



can-raised variety. It has been cultivated 

 for some few years now, but its exquisite 

 beauty does not appear to have been fully 

 recognised. It was finer last year than ever 

 before at Gunnersbury. It is a most rol)ust 

 grower, one of the very strongest. Its 

 foliage, when fully matured, is quite 18in. 

 across. The flowers are of the largest size, 

 often as much as 9in. in diameter. The 

 colour is very pure, the outer petals be'ng 

 tinged with pale green ; this rather adds 

 to its beautv than otherwise. 



Pink and Rose-coloured 



Varieties. 



In these shades of colour X. Mrs. Rich- 

 mond stands otit as being pre-eminently the 

 best and finest pale pink variety that wi 



It 



are as largo as 



albida and N . Gladstoniana two other 



possess. It is possessed also of most un- 

 usual I'igour. I pre<lict for this water-lily 

 a much-extended culture in the near future. 

 N. Marliacea Tho<se who are acquainted with the some- 



like N. Marliacea chromatella, but with 

 absence of the pink shading, while the 

 low is distinctly deeper. In growtli it 

 sembles the variety just named. 



Red, Vermilion, or Carm 



Varieties. 



In this group we have a few remarkable 

 novelties. There are already ^^^^J'^\^^.,.^, 

 in N. gloriosa, N. Ellisiana. and J^^" ; 

 Bryden, but we have another one ttiat 



ral these. One of the hnest n- 

 Nyniphsea Escarboucle ; 

 is different from those 1 ' 

 already named, being more brilliant 

 either, having a distinct shade^ ot^^^^ ^, 



any lily of the same colour a^ - ■ 



boucle. . 11 Kpow"- 



N. atropurpurea is now fairly A\cn ^ v 

 Thi^ also is one of ^:M. I^^^to.u-^l;*";;;^^ 

 varieties. Here, again, the colour is 



fair to rival these, 

 kind's is 

 colour 



milion in its colouring. I <^^' 



what old N. Leydekeri rosea will see in N. distinct but not so brilliant ^ 



