298 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



below the surface of the ground. In winter a sheet of glass is 

 placed over the tub, and the foot or 18 inches packed full of 

 straw rubbish. In May the straw is taken out, but the 

 glass left on until the growth of the plants necessitates its 

 removal. — Ed.] 



NOTES ON THE NEWER OR LESSER KNOWN 

 WATER-LILIES. 



By Mr. James Hudson, V.M.H. 



I do not suppose anyone has ever ventured to find fault with the 

 common white Water-lily from the point of criticism as regards 

 its charms, but, on the contrary, all must have been compelled to 

 admire its purity and beauty. It is undoubtedly one of the most 

 beautiful of what we term " Wild Flowers." For a long period, 

 however, it stood alone in its colour, and of hardy varieties with 

 coloured or tinted flowers we had but a very few. Now we have 

 other white varieties under cultivation, and the coloured ones 

 are fast increasing. I am under the impression that the coloured 

 varieties, even when first heard of, were looked upon as being too 

 tender to be grown in our ponds and streams. Such, for 

 instance, as N. alba-rosea, N. odorata, and its form N. odorata 

 rubra, which is known as the Cape Cod Water-lily and N. 

 tubcrosa. The opinion which prevailed was undoubtedly that of 

 questionable hardihood ; hence their culture did not extend as it 

 should have done. Such impressions as these are, however, now 

 being fast dispelled ; yet there remain some even still who do not 

 realise that these lovely Lilies are really as hardy as our own 

 white variety. I cannot exactly say when N. alba-rosea first 

 came under notice ; but I recollect now some few years back 

 having read a notice of it in the gardening press. This was, as 

 it were, the starting point in my case, and I long desired to 

 possess a plant ; but the price when it was first put into circula- 

 tion was prohibitive. In course of time, by the kindness and 

 generosity of the Kew authorities, I obtained a young plant, and 

 also one of N. tuberosa. Then when later on a coloured plate or 

 two was issued through The Garden my enthusiasm was increased, 

 and finding, as I had done, that N. alba-rosea was quite hardy, 

 I ventured to add twelve other varieties, or forms, as a further 



