WATER-PLANTS. 



189 



aquatic plants, and with their origin ; while on August 6, 1907, Mr. A. 

 Bedford, of Gunnersbury House Gardens, lectured on Hardy Nymphaeas, 

 and placed before your Society practically all the information available 

 about this charming group of plants. 



There is no more attractive addition to any garden than a quiet pond 

 with suitably planted margins, and its attractions continue from the 

 opening of the marsh marigolds at the end of February to the early parts 

 of October. There is a quiet happiness in the appearance of such a pool, 

 or pond, on a hot summer day in full sunshine, which is fascinating and 

 which defies comparison with any other part of the garden. It is only 

 when the same scene is contemplated in winter that one fully recognizes 

 how much we owe to waterside vegetation. 



When making a pond the supply of water has first to be taken into con- 

 sideration, as without a regular supply, small or large, it is folly to make 

 such a garden. If a pond with varied and graceful plants in and around 

 it is inspiriting and beautiful, a dry mud bed with shrivelled vegetation is 

 depressing and ugly ; hence a water garden should be made proportionate 

 to the certain available supply of water, large or small. It is surprising 

 what can be done with a small supply. A rushing cascade is quite 

 unnecessary ; in fact it may be detrimental to the welfare of the plants, 

 as quiet warm water seems conducive to the best results and to the 

 most luxuriant growth and flowering. 



In choosing a situation there is little difficulty where a stream is 

 available. A pond can be made in any flat place near it and a supply of 

 water brought from the stream, but there must always be means to 

 regulate this supply. If there be no stream and a supply of water is 

 brought by pipes some care is required in selecting a site. Select as 

 low-lying a part as possible, a natural depression if one can be found, 

 where one can stand above the pond and look down on the plants. A 

 pond on a high level with lower parts of the garden beneath it looks 

 incongruous and out of place. Another point worthy of consideration 

 is that when masonry and cement have to be used the pond should 

 not be raised more than a few inches above the level of the ground. 

 A raised pond, or rather tank, may give scope for architectural design, 

 but it is very discouraging to a gardener, and how to cover the sides will 

 be a puzzle to the end of the chapter. If built below the surface of the 

 ground there should be double walls, an outer water-tight wall, and an 

 inner perforated wall. The space between these walls can be filled with 

 peat and mud, and then planted with some of the many beautiful subjects 

 named in the list. It is a great mistake to make a pond too deep : 

 18 inches to 24 inches at the deepest points, sloping up to a few inches 

 at the margins, is ample for all requirements. A layer of mud may be 

 spread over the bottom, and the individual plants can be planted in flat 

 baskets, or in pans. 



Now as to the plants themselves. We are not driven to the tropics 

 for them. Among our native British plants are found some of the 

 most beautiful, useful, and dainty for an outdoor water garden, for 

 growing both in and around water. One naturally first turns to the 

 water-lilies, and as a paper specially dealing with these has been read 

 before the Royal Horticultural Society it would be superfluous for 



