HARDY WATER AND BOG PLANTS. 



391 



zcbrina). On the rocks close down to the water, looking 

 north, Ferns seem to do exceedingly well. The Marsh Ferns, 

 North American Claytonia, and even the two Hymenophyllums 

 cover the rocks ; while the Spiraeas and other bog-plants to which 

 I have alluded clothe the banks. A little island of Sphagnum 

 rising out of the w T ater on a clay hillock has Pinguiculas, or 

 Grass of Parnassus, and the mealy Primrose of the Scottish 

 moors. Altogether this picturesque little garden, filling what 

 would be otherwise a shady, damp corner, is, throughout the 

 spring and summer months, one of the most interesting parts of 

 the garden. 



In Mr. Lynch's water-garden at Cambridge there is a large 

 central pond with narrower beds on either side, and a much 

 more extensive collection of plants are there grown. 



I understand he has all the newer and rarer of the hybrid- 

 ised Water Lilies, including, I believe, the pink one, which is 

 now beautifully in flow T er in several Hertfordshire gardens. The 

 Sagittarias, or Arrow-heads, with the beautiful double one, 

 thrive well in such a water-garden. The Marsh Plantain is a 

 distinct and bold-looking plant. The Water Mimulus (M. luteins) 

 on the margin of the banks makes glorious masses of yellow. 



During the past year I have had great difficulty in planting 

 pieces of water w T ith suitable plants. One was a piece of water 

 where, the bottom being cemented, there was no roothold 

 for the plants. This difficulty was obviated by putting the 

 water-plants in paraffin tubs cut in half, and sinking them 

 to the required depths. The plants succeeded admirably, 

 and are easily kept free from weeds. The other was a swift- 

 running stream, about four feet deep, through the chalk. Some 

 large specially made drain-pipes, into which the plants had 

 been put, had the lower ends worked into the chalk bottom, 

 and some large burrs built up in a hollow manner round 

 groups of three or five prevented the plants and pipes being 

 washed away, and at the same time gave plenty of shelter to 

 the trout with which the stream abounded. A small island 

 formed in the same manner, and covered with Calthas and 

 Sarracenias, has been successful. I append a list of a few of the 

 most easily cultivated of the water-plants, with which any pond 

 can be easily planted and made interesting. 



